CONCACAF TRIO SEEK FAIRY-TALE ENDING

Tiny Curacao and Suriname eye maiden World Cup, strife-torn Haiti eager for return

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Haiti players are downcast after losing 3-0 to Honduras in their World Cup qualifier on Oct 13. But a 1-0 win over Costa Rica has revived their chances ahead of their final game against Nicaragua.

(PHOTO: AFP)

Curacao could become the smallest country to compete at the World Cup, conflict-torn Haiti may defy the odds and another small nation Suriname has a chance to qualify for the first time when the Concacaf qualifiers conclude on Nov 18 (Nov 19 morning, Singapore time).

But there are four other countries - Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica and Panama - also in the running for the three automatic berths reserved at the expanded 48-nation 2026 Finals for teams from the North, Central America and Caribbean confederation.

Each of the three group winners advance to the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico in June 2026, while the two best-ranked runners-up will go into the inter-confederation playoffs in March when two more World Cup places will be decided.

Curacao, a self-governing part of the Netherlands with a population of just over 150,000, will replace Iceland as the smallest country to qualify for a World Cup if they avoid defeat in Jamaica.