The people of Curaçao belong to the smallest nation by population ever to qualify with a homegrown team for the grand stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. There is no doubt that this achievement is of such magnitude that very few accomplishments in our history can compare to it.
For us, being placed in a group alongside Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast should be regarded as a moment that will remain forever etched in our collective memory. Curaçao has already made history, regardless of how far the team ultimately advances in the tournament.
That fact alone should be enough reason for every major company in Curaçao to step forward in one way or another and show our people that something truly extraordinary has been achieved. The rest of the world should know that we recognize the historic significance of this accomplishment and that we are immensely proud of it.
At the same time, I cannot help but note that I had expected and hoped that the Government of Curaçao, under the leadership of Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, would have seized this opportunity immediately after November 18, 2025, by declaring a national holiday.
Such a day could have brought us together through a meaningful national program focused on awareness, gratitude, hope, and inspiration. It could have served as a celebration of what has been achieved while encouraging future ambitions and commitments for generations to come.
Months have passed, and what I consider to have been an absolute necessity has not happened.
Today, we are only sixteen days away from Curaçao's opening clash against Germany. I had also expected Curaçao Airport Partners and other organizations to take the lead in creating something truly exceptional at our airport. Imagine the airport transformed in the colors of our national flag—blue, yellow, and white—possibly combined with images of the players who have made this historic achievement possible.
Such displays would remind every arriving and departing traveler that Curaçao is experiencing one of the proudest moments in its history.
The Curaçao Tourist Board also has an important role to play. In my view, it possesses the international connections and strategic reach necessary to promote the Blue Wave spirit around the world, whether through airlines, cruise ships, tourism campaigns, or other platforms that capture the attention of visitors and travelers.
Key institutions in the financial sector should also be visible participants. Insurance companies such as Guardian Group/Fatum, Ennia, and others, along with commercial banks including MCB, Banco di Caribe, RBC, and Orco Bank, all have an opportunity to contribute to this national moment.
The same applies to companies such as Curoil and RAC.
Businesses in the food and hospitality sectors should not be left out either. Companies like KFC, McDonald's, Subway, Burger King, major supermarket chains such as Mangusa, Goisco, and Centrum Supermarkets, as well as the island's hotels, can all help showcase Curaçao's pride and unity.
Beyond the corporate world, there are countless opportunities within our neighborhoods and communities to present Curaçao to the world as a proud, joyful, and hopeful nation looking toward a brighter future.
I often ask myself whether there will be another event in the coming years that could carry greater historical significance and impact for Curaçao than participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
I sincerely wish our national team—the entire group that has brought us this far—the very best results during and after the tournament.
Everyone should contribute in some way to ensuring that our island shines during this almost unique moment in our history. It is, without question, a responsibility that rests on all of our shoulders to present Curaçao to the world in the best possible light.
No one knows when an opportunity like this will come again.
Erwin Refaela is a seasoned journalist and a columnist