Curaçao

Curaçao’s involvement in the Gold Cup is a recent but notable story of rapid progress. Curaçao debuted in the Gold Cup in 2017. Although they did not win a match, they were competitive in all three group games.

Their most memorable run came in 2019, when they scored their first-ever Gold Cup goal (Leandro Bacuna vs. Honduras) and earned their first win. They drew with Jamaica thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time goal by Jurien Gaari, which helped them advance to the quarterfinals. Curaçao then narrowly lost 1-0 to the United States in the quarterfinals, earning respect across the region for their spirited play.

Curaçao qualified for the 2021 Gold Cup but had to withdraw due to a COVID-19 outbreak among players.

Curaçao secured direct qualification to the 2025 Gold Cup by finishing first in their group in the 2024–25 Nations League, highlighted by a decisive 4-1 victory over Saint Lucia under coach Dick Advocaat.

Not surprisingly the Dutch speaking territory has a squad with most of the players coming from Europe, 11 of them playing their club football in the Netherlands.

Head Coach

Dirk ‘Dick’ Advocaat is a legend in the Dutch games as a former football player and coach. He has managed the  Netherlands national team on three separate occasions.

He has also South Korea, Belgium and Russia. His nickname is ‘The Little General’, a reference to his mentor Rinus Michels.

Star Players:

Jurien Gaari

He played for Curaçao at the 2017 and 2019 Gold Cups, scoring his first goal for Curaçao in 2019 against Jamaica, a late equalizer that gave the team a 1-1 draw. He has now played 45 times for his country.

A right back who can also play centreback, he plays his club football for Al-Hazem in Saudi Arabia.

Eloy Room

Eloy Room has been a standout performer in Curaçao’s goal. Room is eligible to represent Curaçao through his father. He plays his club football for Cercle Brugge in Belgium. He made his senior debut in a 1–0 win against Trinidad and Tobago on 6 June 2015.  He was named man of the match. If Curaçao progress then he will likely have a hand in it, perhaps both hands.

Leandro Bacuna

The Watford midfielder was born in the Netherlands to parents of Afro-Curaçaoan descent, Bacuna played for the Netherlands Antilles under-20 side, as well as various youth Dutch teams. He received his first Curaçao national team call-up in March 2016, earning his first cap in a 1–0 loss to Barbados.

Schedule:

June 17 vs El Salvador, PayPal Park, San Jose, 5.45pm KO

June 21 vs Canada, Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, 6pm KO

June 24 vs El Salvador, Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, 9pm KO

Squad: