Curacao’s Dick Advocaat set to break World Cup manager record
WILLEMSTAD, Curacao – Curacao’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup has put veteran manager Dick Advocaat on course to set a new tournament milestone, with the 78-year-old set to become the oldest coach to lead a team at a World Cup.
Curacao secured a place at the expanded 48-team event after a decisive draw against Jamaica on Tuesday, finishing top of their Concacaf qualifying group. The Caribbean nation will become the smallest country ever to reach a World Cup finals, marking a historic breakthrough for the federation and its emerging talent pool.
Advocaat, who turns 79 shortly after the tournament, will surpass the previous age record held by Otto Rehhagel, who was 71 years and 317 days when he oversaw Greece’s final match at the 2010 World Cup. The Dutchman’s achievement underscores a managerial career that has spanned more than four decades across club and international football.
A three-time manager of the Netherlands, Advocaat has held national-team posts on multiple continents, including the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Belgium, Russia, Serbia and, most recently, Iraq in 2021. His club résumé includes spells with Rangers and Sunderland, but guiding Curacao to the world stage stands as one of his most improbable accomplishments.
Curacao’s rise reflects steady investment in coaching, player development and diaspora recruitment, with Advocaat’s experience adding structure and tactical clarity to a youthful squad. The team’s qualification is expected to draw increased attention to the nation’s football programme and could spark further development ahead of the tournament.
For Advocaat, the World Cup berth extends an already storied career and adds a landmark achievement to his final years in management. For Curacao, it represents a transformative step as they prepare to take their place among the game’s elite next summer.