156,000
With a population of around 156,000, Curaçao is the smallest nation by population size to ever qualify for the World Cup, beating the mark set by Iceland (336,000) at Russia 2018.
93
A 93rd-minute own goal by Guatemala’s Nicolas Samayoa was enough to secure Suriname’s place in the FIFA Play-off Tournament over Honduras on goals scored in the final matchday of qualifying.
78
At the age of 78, Curaçao boss Dick Advocaat is poised to become the oldest coach at a FIFA World Cup. The veteran Dutchman is poised to eclipse the mark set by Otto Rehhagel, who was 71 years and 317 days old when he managed Greece in their final group game against Argentina at South Africa 2010.
52
Haiti ended a mammoth 52-year wait by advancing to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they were beaten by Italy, Poland and Argentina before exiting in the group stage. They could be matched by DR Congo, who would also end a similar absence should they progress from the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
8
Two teams scored a record eight goals in a single World Cup qualifier – Costa Rica against the Bahamas and Puerto Rico against Anguilla, both of which came in the second round of preliminaries.
6
Guatemala’s Oscar Santis and Haiti forward Duckens Nazon topped the Concacaf goalscoring charts with six goals apiece in qualifying.
5
Curaçao are the fifth different Caribbean side to reach the World Cup following in the footsteps of Cuba (1938), Haiti (1974), Jamaica (1998) and Trinidad and Tobago (2006).
4
Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide qualified for the World Cup at the fourth time of asking after participating in qualifying cycles for Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
3
Advocaat will be taking part in his third World Cup after leading the Netherlands to the quarter-finals at USA 1994 and Korea Republic at Germany 2006, where they were eliminated in the group stage.
2
Panama are returning to the World Cup for just the second time after making their inaugural berth at Russia 2018.
0
Haiti qualified for the World Cup despite not playing any home games in the country. They played ‘home’ matches in Willemstad, Curaçao.
