Curaçao has once again caused a stir at the World Cup by holding Paraguay to a 0-0 draw and keeping its dream of a historic knockout spot alive.

What happened?

In a tournament where the island team was already written off as an exotic footnote, Dick Advocaat's team proved to be tough, compact and unencumbered once again.

Paraguay fired attack after attack, but each time hit a wall in blue. Goalkeeper Eloy Room – already a standout against Ecuador – grew into a symbol of Curaçao's determination, supported by a block of players trained in the Netherlands who refused to give up.

How far does this story go?

As the minutes ticked by, the nervousness visibly shifted from the underdog to the South American favorite. The party on the stands was celebrated just as hard as on the field. For the many fans with Antillean roots, this World Cup campaign feels like a late redemption: finally, a team with a Caribbean flag on its chest, but with a Dutch accent in the dressing room, is in the global spotlight.

What's next?

The question is no longer whether Curaçao belongs on this stage, but how far this story will go. With the draw against Paraguay, Curaçao keeps all hope of a fairy-tale eighth final in its own hands, in a group that is completely open after two rounds. Our latest results: | Date | Opponent | Score | | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-06-25 | Honduras | 2-1 loss | Recent form (last 5): 0W-3D-2L (LDDDL, most recent first)