Curaçao and Suriname Start World Cup Qualifiers with Victories
Under the guidance of Dick Advocaat, Curaçao has kicked off the qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on a high note. The Dutch head coach witnessed his team secure a convincing 4-1 victory over Barbados. Similarly, Etienne Vaessen led Suriname to a promising start, with the RKC goalkeeper helping his side to a 4-1 win against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Rangelo Janga shone brightly for Curaçao in their triumph over Barbados, scoring three out of the four goals. The 32-year-old former striker, who has previously played for clubs like NEC and Excelsior, played a pivotal role in securing the victory for his team.
In his debut match as the head coach of Curaçao, Advocaat handed defender Joshua Brenet his first cap. The former player of FC Twente and PSV had previously represented the Netherlands national team in 2016 before receiving approval from FIFA to switch allegiances to Curaçao. Brenet, who was released by FC Twente earlier this year due to legal issues, made a solid contribution to the team’s performance.
Meanwhile, Vaessen conceded one goal in his debut as Suriname’s goalkeeper, but his team rallied back to secure a 4-1 win. Goals from Sheraldo Becker, Justin Lonwijk, Jeredy Hilterman, and Jaden Montnor helped Suriname overcome Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Suriname, placed in Group F for the second qualifying round, will face Anguilla, El Salvador, and Puerto Rico. On the other hand, Curaçao’s opponents in Group B include Barbados, Haiti, Aruba, and Saint Lucia as they aim to progress to the next stage of the qualifiers.
With six groups of five countries in the second qualifying round, only the top two teams from each group will advance to the next round. CONCACAF will offer a total of five World Cup tickets to be earned through the qualification process.