Curaçao misses main tournament Gold Cup after loss against Saint Kitts and Nevis

Curaçao soccer players failed to qualify for the main tournament of the Gold Cup. In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the team lost to Saint Kitts and Nevis in the first qualifying round after penalty kicks, after going 1-1 in regular play time.

Curaçao featured a large number of (ex-)premier league players in the starting lineup. Among others, Vurnon Anita, Cuco Martina, Eloy Room, Leandro Bacuna and goal scorer Jürgen Locadia could not prevent a blamage.

Saint Kitts and Nevis, an island group in the Caribbean Sea, is ranked 139th in the world. Curaçao itself occupies spot 88 and wants to make a serious bid to participate in the 2026 World Cup. During the last edition of the Gold Cup in 2021, Curaçao reached the quarterfinals.

To reach the main tournament of the Gold Cup, Saint Kitts and Nevis must face the winner of the duel between French Guiana and Saint Martin in the second and final qualifying round.

The main tournament of the Championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean begins June 26 and will be held in the United States.