MIAMI – Curaçao's national football team took a break from its World Cup preparations to enjoy a special outing in Miami, where captain Leandro Bacuna was given the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before a Major League Baseball game.
The event took place ahead of the matchup between the Miami Marlins and the Arizona Diamondbacks, offering the Blue Wave a unique opportunity to experience another major sporting event as excitement builds ahead of Curaçao's historic World Cup debut.
Bacuna stepped onto the field to deliver the first pitch, while national team head coach Dick Advocaat was on hand to catch the ball. The moment drew applause from spectators and highlighted the growing international attention surrounding Curaçao's participation in the FIFA World Cup.
Advocaat described the experience as a great honor. The veteran Dutch coach has a personal connection to baseball, having played the sport during his youth with ADO before embarking on a highly successful football career.
The outing provided a brief respite for the squad, which is currently based in Boca Raton, Florida, where players are continuing their preparations for the biggest tournament in football.
Curaçao is set to make history on Sunday when it plays its first-ever World Cup match. The Blue Wave faces a daunting challenge in its opening Group E encounter against four-time world champions Germany.
The team's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has already become one of the greatest achievements in Curaçao's sporting history, and anticipation continues to build both on the island and among supporters traveling to the United States.
As the countdown to kickoff continues, the visit to the Marlins game offered players and staff a memorable moment before turning their full attention back to the task ahead: representing Curaçao on football's biggest stage.