World's Smallest Nations in the 2026 World Cup

The Caribbean island of Curaçao has qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in history, earning recognition as the smallest nation to ever participate in the tournament. Among the smallest participating countries in the upcoming summer competition are Paraguay, Norway, Scotland, New Zealand, Panama, Croatia, Uruguay, Qatar, and Cape Verde.

With a population of 185,000, Curaçao has a land area smaller than the city of Khimki. The team achieved this historic milestone by defeating Jamaica during the qualification stage.

Under the leadership of head coach Dick Advocaat, they aspire to achieve significant success. An interesting aspect of this tournament is Paraguay’s return after a 16-year hiatus.

Norway is making its first FIFA World Cup appearance since 1998, driven by Erling Haaland’s exceptional performances, while Scotland has also secured its first participation since 1998.

New Zealand returns to the major tournament, having last competed in 2010. Panama, which debuted in 2018, will again test its capabilities in the competition.

Croatia, led by Luka Modrić, aims to replicate its achievements from recent years. Uruguay, historically one of the smallest World Cup champions, is re-entering the grand stage following its victories in 1930 and 1950.

Qatar, the host of the 2022 edition, has earned a spot through qualification for the first time since then. Cape Verde’s participation is particularly noteworthy, as it is one of Africa’s smallest nations and secured its place by defeating Cameroon in the qualifiers.

This marks another memorable chapter in the history of football. Read “Zamin” on Telegram!