WILLEMSTAD – The parliamentary faction of MAN-PIN is calling on the government to award the Cross of Merit to the players of Curaçao's national football team in recognition of their historic performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The party has submitted an official request to Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (OWCS) Sithree van Heydoorn, urging him to bestow one of the island's highest national honors on the players.
According to MAN-PIN, the national team's achievements at the World Cup generated an unprecedented sense of national pride and unity while significantly enhancing Curaçao's international image.
"The players have written history and inspired an entire nation," the party said, arguing that their accomplishments deserve formal national recognition.
MAN-PIN also addressed potential concerns about eligibility for the Cross of Merit. The party noted that although many members of the national team live abroad or are younger than 50 years old, these conditions are based on government policy rather than statutory law.
As a result, the party argues that the minister has the authority to make an exception in recognition of the team's extraordinary achievement.
Should the government determine that awarding the Cross of Merit is not possible, MAN-PIN proposes presenting the players with an official Merit Plaque as an alternative form of national recognition.
Curaçao made history this year by becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, a milestone that captured the attention of football fans around the world and sparked celebrations across the island.