WILLEMSTAD – After suffering a 4-1 defeat against Scotland in an international friendly, Curaçao's national football team is turning its attention to its final match on home soil before departing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Blue Wave will face Aruba on Friday evening at 8:00 p.m. at Stadion Ergilio Hato in what will be the team's last warm-up match before traveling to the United States.
Curaçao fell to Scotland on Saturday in Glasgow despite taking an early lead through Tahith Chong. The match changed after a red card was shown to Jürgen Locadia, allowing the Scots to capitalize and secure a convincing victory.
The national team, coached by Dick Advocaat, will complete one final public training session in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, on Monday before returning to Curaçao the following day.
Preparations on the island will begin immediately. A press conference is scheduled for Wednesday, followed by a public training session at Ergilio Hato Stadium, giving fans an opportunity to see the squad in action before its departure. The team will train again on Thursday, although only the first 15 minutes of that session will be open to the public.
Friday's friendly against Aruba is expected to draw significant interest as supporters prepare to send off the national team ahead of the biggest tournament in Curaçao's football history.
Following the match, the squad will depart on Sunday for Boca Raton, Florida, where it will continue its preparations for the World Cup.
Curaçao is set to make its historic World Cup debut later this month, facing a challenging group that includes Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast.
The upcoming match against Aruba will provide Advocaat and his coaching staff with one final opportunity to evaluate the squad, make tactical adjustments, and build momentum before the team heads to the United States for its historic World Cup campaign.
For Curaçao's players and supporters alike, Friday's encounter will mark the final chapter before the island embarks on what is expected to be a landmark moment in the nation's sporting history.