🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Smallest nations to qualify for FIFA World Cup, led by Curaçao
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Qualifying for the FIFA World Cup is a significant achievement, especially for smaller nations with limited populations. Curaçao leads the list as the smallest nation to qualify, securing a spot in the 2026 tournament with a population of 185,000. This surpasses Iceland, which previously held the record with 340,000 people when it qualified for the 2018 World Cup. Cape Verde, with 528,000 residents, also secured a historic place in the 2026 World Cup. Other nations that defied odds include Paraguay, which had an estimated 860,000 people at the 1930 tournament, and Trinidad and Tobago, with 1.3 million people, for the 2006 World Cup. Northern Ireland, with 1.4 million, made multiple appearances, including a victory in 1982. Kuwait, with 1.5 million, qualified for the 1982 finals. Slovenia, Uruguay, and the United Arab Emirates each had populations of around 1.9 million when they qualified for their respective World Cups in 2002, 1930, and 1990. These achievements highlight that success in football is not solely dependent on population size.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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