From tiny Curaçao to the Tartan Army, jubilant fans celebrated Tuesday as a succession of minnows ended long waits to secure their spot alongside global icons and popular powerhouses competing for international sport’s most coveted prize.
Curaçao and Scotland — whose dramatic victory sent Edinburgh into rapture, kilts and all — are now among those to have qualified for next year’s men’s FIFA World Cup in North America.
The tournament will be the first to include 48 nations, including hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States, which thrashed Uruguay 5-1 on Tuesday to boost its standing.
While many will be eager to see the likes of holders Argentina and favorites Spain and England take center stage, some unlikely nations will now be joining them.
Curaçao
An island nation in the Caribbean, Curaçao made history by becoming the smallest country by population to ever qualify for the FIFA World Cup, a record that was previously set by Iceland in 2018.
With a population of just over 155,000 people, the odds were set against them, but their 0-0 tie in Jamaica on Tuesday night saw them secure top spot in their group as their fans passionately chanted and waved their blue and yellow flags.
“I think we deserve this,” a fan told Reuters. “It is time for us to celebrate right now.”
Haiti
The nation mired in upheaval and gang violence has qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974.
Because of the ongoing turmoil, the team’s 52-year-old coach has been unable to set foot in the nation, despite being appointed 18 months ago.
Nonetheless, soccer fans in the nation of about 12 million people were tensely watching the 2-0 win over Nicaragua and celebrations began in the capital Port-au-Prince as the referee blew the final whistle.
Scotland
Though it regularly boasts players at top European teams and draws huge crowds, Scotland’s soccer history is widely seen as one of glorious failure. Not so in Edinburgh on Tuesday, where a 4-2 upset victory over Denmark that included two epic stoppage time goals meant Scotland could avoid the perils of European playoffs and secure their first World Cup appearance in 28 years.
“Never in doubt Scotland,” former World No. 1 tennis player Andy Murray wrote on X. “North America, here we come,” he added.
Panama
Panama confirmed its second trip to a World Cup on the final matchday of qualifiers, defeating El Salvador 3-0.
The Central American nation had to come through a difficult qualifying campaign, but the team eventually found its stride when it mattered most.
Cape Verde
Ranked 71st in the world and with a population of less than 500,000, the African nation sealed their first ever qualification last month and are now the third smallest country to take part in the tournament.
The Blue Sharks will be making their first appearance at a World Cu after topping a competitive qualifying group.
Notable absentees
Two of the world’s populous nations, India and China, will both continue their absence from the World Cup following disappointing performances in qualifying.
Also not making the cut, despite the expansion to 48 nations, are regular fixtures like Nigeria, Cameroon, and Serbia.
Others face an anxious wait, with a final playoff tournament to be held in Mexico next year.
Iraq, where soccer is hugely popular but which hasn’t made the World Cup since it was last in Mexico in 1986, had to rely on a 107th minute penalty to book its spot at the intercontinental playoffs.
Two teams will qualify from the tournament, which also includes Congo from Africa, Jamaica and Suriname from CONCACAF, Bolivia from South America and New Caledonia from Oceania.
