Curaçao, with a population of approximately 156,000, has become the smallest nation by population to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, securing a historic spot in the 2026 tournament. The Caribbean island nation achieved the feat following the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, surpassing Iceland's previous record of around 334,000 residents at the time of their 2018 qualification. Cape Verde, with a population of roughly 525,000, also qualified for the 2026 World Cup, marking their first appearance on football's biggest stage. Trinidad and Tobago, with about 1.3 million people, held the record before Curaçao after reaching the 2006 tournament, where they famously drew 0–0 with Sweden despite playing over half of the match with 10 men. Northern Ireland, with a population of around 1.4 million, reached the quarter-finals in their 1958 debut, a run that remains one of the most notable achievements for a small nation. Paraguay, with an estimated population of 1.5 million at the time of their 1950 qualification, featured in early tournaments with a modest talent pool. Iceland's 2018 campaign included a 1–1 draw against Argentina, highlighting their ability to compete despite limited numbers.
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