The Curaçao national football team now knows its opponents for the group stage of the 2026/27 CONCACAF Nations League. The full schedule for the September-October window has been confirmed.
Managed by coach Dick Advocaat, the team has been drawn into League A, Group A alongside Costa Rica, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. This means four matches in the autumn: two at home and two away. The Nations League also serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The team's recent form has been mixed, with one win, two draws, and two losses in its last five matches (LDDLW). Its last result was a 0-2 defeat to Ivory Coast on June 25.
How does the Nations League tournament work?
The 2026/27 CONCACAF Nations League will be played across three FIFA match windows: September-October 2026, November 2026, and March 2027. A total of 74 group stage matches are scheduled for the first window across three leagues. The competition culminates in March 2027 with the Nations League Finals for League A at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and with centralized championships for the winners of Leagues B and C. The official draw was held on Thursday, July 23, in Miami.
League A features sixteen nations. The twelve lowest-ranked teams, including Curaçao, first play a group stage in a Swiss-style format, split into two groups of six. The top two finishers from each group advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face the four pre-seeded teams: Mexico, the United States, Canada, and Panama. Those quarterfinals are two-legged ties in November. The aggregate winners progress to the final four in March.
What does this mean for Gold Cup qualification?
More than just the Nations League title is at stake. Performance in this tournament directly determines qualification for the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup. For Curaçao, a strong group stage is therefore vital to secure a place at that prestigious regional championship. The team currently sits fourth in its World Cup qualifying group with one point from three games, having recorded zero wins, one draw, and two losses. Its goal statistics are lean: one scored and nine conceded, for a goal difference of minus eight. They trail group leaders Germany by five points. The upcoming Nations League matches offer a chance to build momentum for the remaining World Cup qualifiers. Fans can follow the full schedule on our fixtures page.
How are the other leagues structured?
The groups for League B and C are also set. League B has sixteen teams in four groups of four, including Cuba, Grenada, and Bonaire in Group C. League C features nine teams in three groups of three. For these two lower leagues, group stage matches are played at centralized venues, a measure introduced in the last edition to reduce travel demands. The group winners in League B will compete for the League B championship in March.
What are the next steps for Curaçao?
Coach Advocaat's team faces a challenging autumn with four Nations League matches against direct regional rivals. Performances in these games are important for ranking, for Gold Cup qualification, and for morale after a difficult start to World Cup qualifying. The first step is a strong showing in the League A group stage. The squad details and individual statistics can be found on our squad and stats pages. The focus now shifts to preparing for the September fixtures, where the team will look to build on the recent draws and the single win in its last five outings.
