WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao's historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to inspire supporters far beyond the island's shores. One of the most unusual and heartwarming examples comes from Spain, where a football fan became so captivated by the story of the Blue Wave that he decided to create his own "Popular Embassy of Curaçao."
What began as a joke has since evolved into a social media phenomenon.
Emilio Fernández Lezcano, better known as "Milu," is a football enthusiast from A Coruña in the Spanish region of Galicia. According to Milu, he discovered the story of Curaçao's remarkable journey to the World Cup and was immediately drawn to the small Caribbean island's achievement of qualifying for football's biggest tournament.
Inspired by the underdog story, he launched what he calls the "Popular Embassy of Curaçao" on social media, sharing videos and content about the island and its national football team with Spanish-speaking audiences.
To his surprise, the project quickly gained traction.
One of his videos surpassed 100,000 views, introducing thousands of viewers in Spain and elsewhere to Curaçao's football story and generating a wave of support for the island's national team.
But the biggest surprise was still to come.
According to Milu, Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas publicly responded to one of his posts, something he says left him "slightly stunned."
The interaction turned what started as a lighthearted social media project into a genuine connection between a football fan in Europe and the Caribbean nation he had come to admire.
"I stumbled onto the story of Curaçao reaching the 2026 World Cup and got so into it that—half as a joke—I started a Popular Embassy of Curaçao to share your story over here," Milu wrote in an email to Curaçao Chronicle.
The story highlights how Curaçao's World Cup debut has captured international attention in unexpected places. While larger football nations often dominate headlines, Curaçao's rise has resonated with fans who appreciate underdog stories and the passion of smaller footballing nations.
For many supporters abroad, the island's qualification represents more than football. It is a story of perseverance, ambition, and national pride.
The fact that a football fan from northwestern Spain would voluntarily dedicate his social media platform to promoting Curaçao demonstrates how far the island's World Cup journey has traveled.
As Curaçao prepares for its next World Cup match, it appears the Blue Wave has gained at least one unofficial diplomatic mission in Europe—an embassy without a building, diplomats, or government funding, but one fueled entirely by football and admiration for a small Caribbean nation making history on the world's biggest sporting stage.
Visit Milu’s Instragram posts
- The embassy video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZSwSU7zvK4/
- The one where the PM replied: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZp8spozosh/