Curacao name World Cup squad: Tahith Chong, Bacuna brothers included

Ricardo Makyn / AFP via Getty Images Share articleFormer Manchester United academy player Tahith Chong has been included in Dick Advocaat’s squad for Curacao’s World Cup debut this summer. Chong, 26, officially changed his international allegiance from the Netherlands to Curacao in August 2025, and recorded two goals and an assist in his first two World Cup qualifiers for his nation, before a knee injury kept him out of the final four matches of the qualifying campaign. The midfielder spent six years in United’s academy and made 16 first-team appearances. He departed the club in the summer of 2022, joining Birmingham City, before spells with Luton Town and most recently, Sheffield United. He made 21 Championship appearances this season. Meanwhile, former Aston Villa midfielder Leandro Bacuna will captain Curacao — whose population of 156,000 makes them the smallest nation at the World Cup. He currently plays in Turkey’s second tier for Igdir FK, having joined from league rivals Bandırmaspor in January. The 34-year-old will play alongside his younger brother, Juninho Bacuna, formerly of Huddersfield Town, Rangers, and Birmingham. Since August 2025, five players — including the aforementioned Chong — have changed their allegiance to become Curacao internationals. Shurandy Sambo, Riechedly Bazoer, Sontje Hansen and Armando Obispo were all among those, and have each been named in the World Cup squad. Obispo is perhaps the most notable of those names, having won four Eredivisie titles with PSV Eindhoven. He made 27 appearances this season as his side lifted the title for the third consecutive year, and he played in six of his side’s eight Champions League fixtures. Two players from USL Championship club Miami FC will represent Curacao at the World Cup, with goalkeeper Eloy Room and forward Jurgen Locadia named in the squad. Advocaat, 78, will be the oldest manager to ever lead a team at a World Cup, after the announcement last week that he will return to the role three months after stepping down to care for his daughter. He has managed at two previous World Cups, with the Netherlands in 1994 and South Korea in 2006. Curacao qualified for this summer’s expanded 48-team World Cup after topping a Concacaf group that consisted of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bermuda. They became the smallest-ever nation to qualify for the competition after drawing 0-0 with Jamaica in their final-game decider. Curacao have been drawn in Group E and will face Germany on June 14, Ecuador on June 20 and Ivory Coast on June 25. Goalkeepers: Tyrick Bodak (SC Telstar), Trevor Doornbusch (VVV-Venlo), Eloy Room (Miami FC). Defenders: Riechedly Bazoer (Konyaspor), Joshua Brenet (Kayserispor), Roshon Van Eijma (RKC Waalwijk), Sherel Floranus (PEC Zwolle), Deveron Fonville (NEC Nijmegen), Jurien Gaari (Abha Club), Armando Obispo (PSV Eindhoven), Shurandy Sambo (Sparta Rotterdam). Midfielders: Juninho Bacuna (FC Volendam), Leandro Bacuna (Igdır), Livano Comenencia (FC Zurich), Kevin Felida (FC Den Bosch), Ar’Jany Martha (Rotherham United), Tyrese Noslin (SC Telstar), Godfried Roemeratoe (RKC Waalwijk). Forwards: Jeremy Antonisse (AE Kifisia), Tahith Chong (Sheffield United), Kenji Gorre (Maccabi Haifa), Sontje Hansen (Middlesbrough), Gervane Kastaneer (Terengganu FC), Brandley Kuwas (FC Volendam), Jurgen Locadia (Miami FC), Jearl Margaritha (SK Beveren). Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms