WILLEMSTAD - As Curaçao makes history as the smallest country ever to qualify for the world's biggest soccer tournament, Sandals Royal Curaçao is launching Vacation Goals: Curaçao Edition, a limited-time summer program channeling the island's excitement and global spotlight into a celebratory guest experience. Blending spirited on-resort festivities with immersive cultural exploration, the all-inclusive resort invites travelers to embrace the excitement of the game alongside the unmistakable flair of the Dutch Caribbean.
Aerial view of Sandals Royal Curaçao, where oceanfront luxury meets the thrill of the World Cup through the resort’s spirited “Vacation Goals” program.
Aerial view of Sandals Royal Curaçao, where oceanfront luxury meets the thrill of the World Cup through the resort’s spirited “Vacation Goals” program.
Pictured here, the iconic waterfront of Handelskade, one of the stops featured on Island Routes’ limited-time Curaçao Futbòl Culture Tour, which immerses travelers in Curaçao’s vibrant soccer spirit and culture.
Pictured here, the iconic waterfront of Handelskade, one of the stops featured on Island Routes’ limited-time Curaçao Futbòl Culture Tour, which immerses travelers in Curaçao’s vibrant soccer spirit and culture.
The Sandals Foundation’s Future Goals program helps champion the next generation of soccer players by repurposing plastic waste into soccer equipment for elementary schools on the island.
The Sandals Foundation’s Future Goals program helps champion the next generation of soccer players by repurposing plastic waste into soccer equipment for elementary schools on the island.
Game On in Paradise
Beginning this June and running through the duration of the tournament (June 11 - July 19, 2026), Sandals Royal Curaçao will turn every match into a moment against a backdrop of Caribbean sun and sea, transforming the resort into a vibrant gathering place where fans unite to cheer on their favorite teams. This includes high-energy watch parties along with on-resort goal posts and soccer balls that invite guests to jump into the action, sharpen their footwork and embrace their soccer spirit. Game-day food and beverage specials will spotlight flavors of competing nations with a Caribbean twist, while a cocktail lineup honors host countries, Canada, the United States and Mexico, with zero-proof libations also joining the roster.
Stepping Into Curaçao's Soccer Spirit
This summer, Sandals Resorts' destination excursion partner, Island Routes, introduces a limited-time Curaçao Futbòl Culture Tour, inviting guests to discover Curaçao's vibrant World Cup pride. Named in honor of the island's national team, the tour captures the energy, culture, and unity that define the island during this historic football moment, with stops at iconic landmarks and lively community gathering spots. These include a visit to the Stadion Ergilio Hato, the home stadium where local legends train and play; a walking tour through the colorful streets of Willemstad, including a mural photo opportunity; and a tasting at the local Chobolobo distillery, all led by knowledgeable guides who share Curaçao's football history, legendary players, cultural traditions, and the deeper meaning behind the island's national pride. The tour will be available during the months of June and July, on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10am-2pm, departing from Sandals Royal Curaçao.
Shooting Your Shot at Paradise: Enter to Win
To celebrate Curaçao's historic summer and the island's moment on the global stage, Sandals Royal Curaçao is launching the Vacation Goals: Curaçao Edition Sweepstakes, giving travelers the chance to win a five-day, four-night all-inclusive stay for two — plus a complimentary Curaçao Futbòl Culture Tour for two. Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada through 11:59 p.m. on April 12, the sweepstakes invites fans to experience the island's match-day energy firsthand. To enter, visit www.sandals.com/vacation-goals-sweepstakes.
Scoring for the Future
Sandals Resorts is also investing in the next generation of soccer players through Future Goals, a collaboration between its philanthropic arm, the Sandals Foundation, Dutch football club AFC Ajax. Recently extended through 2028, the program transforms plastic waste and discarded fishing nets collected from Curaçao's shores into colorful soccer goal posts for elementary schools across the island.
The goal posts are produced in partnership with local recycler Limpi Recycling — which operates a visitor-friendly outpost at a local mall where guests can learn more about its efforts. The program is paired with an eight-week curriculum that blends classroom learning and on-the-field training. To date, Future Goals has diverted more than 3,800 pounds of plastic waste and recycled over 2,000 square feet of ghost fishing nets to create more than 70 goal posts. The program reaches more than 2,400 children across 80% of the island's primary schools – ensuring that as Curaçao shines on the global stage, the next generation is inspired at home.