156,000 people. That is the full size of Curaçao, the Caribbean island that in June 2026 made history by reaching a World Cup for the first time, even surpassing Iceland’s record as the smallest nation ever to qualify. 🌴⚽
On June 14, at Houston’s NRG Stadium, Curaçao faced Germany in Group E. But before the match even began, the Caribbean party had already taken over the streets and the area around the stadium. So contagious was the energy of its fans that a Houston police officer ended up doing something that surely was not in the service manual: letting go of the seriousness, accepting the invitation of a Curaçao fan, and dancing alongside her. The scene was captured on video and immediately went viral. 🎶🕺
And who is leading them? Dick Advocaat, a 78-year-old Dutchman who with this World Cup became the oldest coach in the tournament’s history. A tiny island, an almost octogenarian manager, and a fan base that gets the local police dancing. Curaçao did not come to the World Cup to go unnoticed. 💛💙