Curacao seal historic World Cup qualification as former England and Manchester United coach Steve McClaren resigns from Jamaica

Tuesday night was brimming with drama across the globe as many nations secured their spots at next year's World Cup, taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In the Caribbean, Curacao edged out Jamaica with a 0-0 draw to ensure they would become the smallest ever nation to qualify for the competition, prompting the resignation of Jamaica and former England boss Steve McClaren.

Curacao made history by becoming the smallest-ever nation to qualify for the FIFA World Cup as they edged out Jamaica with a 0-0 draw in a tense decisive qualifier on Tuesday.

Curacao finished top of Group B in the CONCACAF qualifying, knowing anything but a defeat on Tuesday night would have secured their place in the competition for the first time.

A Caribbean island located north of Venezuela, Curacao has a population of just 156,000 - far smaller than that of Iceland, who became the smallest nation to appear at a World Cup in 2018 with an approximate population of 350,000.

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Curacao's qualification sparked wild and emotional celebrations on the pitch, holding onto the draw after playing nearly 11 minutes of stoppage-time, six more than the allotted five. Jamaica, deflated, dropped to their knees.

Tuesday's draw means Jamaica's fate now lies with the intercontinental play-off, held in March, which they will enter without manager Steve McClaren, who resigned following Tuesday's draw.

Former England manager and Manchester United coach McClaren announced his departure during his post-match press conference, saying: "Leadership is a service, tonight I think the best thing I can do is stepping aside.

"They will succeed in March. Thank you Jamaica, it has been an honour, one love to you all."

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He added: "Tonight we’ve fallen short in our goal to qualify. It is the responsibility of the leader, myself to step forward, take accountability, and make decisions in the best interests of the team for them to go for.

"After deep reflection and an honest assessment of where we are, and where we need to go, I have decided to step down as the head coach of the Jamaican national team.

"This decision comes from respect. Always the respect of the badge. Always the support, and the place.

"And sometimes the best thing a leader can do is to recognise when new energy and a different perspective is required to move this team forward. I want to take this moment to clearly thank the players."

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McClaren took charge of Jamaica in July 2024, departing Manchester United, where he had been assistant to Erik ten Hag.

He has also held managerial roles at Middlesbrough, Derby County and Queens Park Rangers, alongside a 15-month spell in the England hot-seat between 2006-2007.

The 64-year-old stated his confidence in Jamaica qualifying for the World Cup via March's play-offs.

"I’m positive this team will succeed in March," he said.

"I think I’d best serve this team by stepping aside, and allowing someone else to take this team forward, which I know they’ll succeed in March. There so much talented ability on this island, things are developing."

Michael Ricketts, president of the Jamaica Football Federation, however, said he was "supremely disappointed" with the job McClaren had done.

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"To say I’m disappointed is an understatement," Ricketts said. "We engaged Heimir Hallgrimsson, then he left.

"We thought Steve McClaren would have been a good replacement, it has turned out that he has not been such a good replacement. We are supremely disappointed."

In the opposite dugout, Curacao manager Dick Advocaat, who was absent from Tuesday's match through a personal issue, is set to become the oldest manager to ever lead a team at a World Cup next year. He turned 78 in September.

Haiti and Panama book World Cup spots

Two other World Cup spots were secured by CONCACAF nations on Tuesday - those going to Haiti and Panama.

Haiti qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974, and just the second time in their history, as they topped CONCACAF Group C with a 2-0 win over Nicaragua on Tuesday, aided by second-placed Honduras drawing 0-0 with Costa Rica.

Panama, meanwhile, claimed the other automatic qualification spot by finishing atop Group A, thanks to a 3-0 win against El Salvador.

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Suriname could well have taken that place from Panama, but a 3-1 defeat to Guatemala saw them finish second in the group, and forced to enter the intercontinental play-offs alongside Jamaica.

Suriname and Jamaica are two of six nations in the new-look play-off format, with Bolivia, DR Congo, New Caledonia and Iraq also set to contest for a spot in the competition.

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