Smallest Nations in the 2026 World Cup: Curacao and Cape Verde Join Historic Lineup

2026 World Cup Welcomes Some of the Smallest Nations Ever

The FIFA World Cup in 2026, held across North America, is the largest tournament yet, with 48 teams competing. This expansion has allowed some of soccer's tiniest nations to reach the global stage alongside the traditional powerhouses.

While established football giants mostly secured their places easily, a few surprises stood out. Italy’s shock exit during the UEFA playoffs was unusual, considering the usual dominance of certain countries. In South America, Brazil barely qualified, finishing fifth in the CONMEBOL qualifiers. Previously, this would have put them at risk, but now the top six qualify directly, with Bolivia getting a chance through inter-confederation playoffs before losing to Iraq. Iraq’s debut was notable, but with nearly 48 million people, it isn’t among the smallest nations competing.

Record for Smallest Country at the World Cup Broken by Curacao

Iceland, which made headlines in 2018 as the smallest country ever at the World Cup with a population around 350,000, has now been surpassed. Curacao, a Caribbean island home to just 185,500 people, will be the tiniest nation at the 2026 tournament. Located about 40 miles north of Venezuela, Curacao is part of CONCACAF and ranked 82nd by FIFA before the World Cup draw.

In Group E, Curacao faces tough competition from Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast. Despite their size, Curacao has seized a rare chance to compete on football’s biggest stage.

Cape Verde Among the Smallest African Nations at the World Cup

Cape Verde, an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands off West Africa’s coast, also made the cut. With a population slightly over half a million (529,672), they are one of Africa’s least populous countries. Cape Verde topped their CAF qualification group, beating out well-known teams like Cameroon. They entered the tournament ranked 67th by FIFA.

Other Small Countries with Big Football Histories

Looking back, Uruguay stands out as the smallest nation to win the World Cup, taking home the trophy twice. When Uruguay won the first-ever tournament in 1930, their population was only about 1.5 million. They repeated the feat in 1950, when the country had around 2 million people. Today, Uruguay has roughly 3.5 million citizens but continues to be a football powerhouse, producing stars like Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.

Croatia could join this conversation as well. Their 2018 World Cup run ended in a final loss to France, but with a population near 3.9 million, they showed a remarkable ability to compete with much larger nations. Croatia’s continued success, including a semifinal appearance four years later, suggests they remain a force punching above their weight.

Populations of Some of the Smallest 2026 World Cup Teams

These countries prove that even those with small populations can earn their place and make an impact in the world’s most popular sport. We think the 2026 World Cup will show some unforgettable moments from these underdog teams.