Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
British Virgin Islands and Curacao, the two teams who sit in the opposite halves of the table, take on each other at Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in the World Cup qualifier. British Virgin Islands have been serving as a cannon fodder for their rivals in Group C, with the team suffering a loss in each of their first three qualifying matches. The hosts are low on confidence following a heavy 5-0 loss to Cuba, and we do not believe that they are capable of upsetting the group leaders.
Curacao, on the other hand, aim to keep their 100% record in the WC qualifiers intact, and we predict that they will take advantage of the home team’s shaky defence. Cardiff City midfielder Leandro Bacuna, who found the net in the 2-1 win over Cuba, will be the man to keep an eye on in the away team.
Highlighted Player (Leandro Bacuna):
Despite being born in Netherlands Leandro Bacuna decided to represent Curacao on international stage. The powerful midfielder, who parents are of Curacaoan descent, is a product of Groningen youth school and it has to be noted that he scored 14 goals in 109 appearances for the first team.
After ending his spell with Groningen, Leandro Bacuna joined Aston Villa in 2013 and he has been playing for the Villa Park outfit ever since. The Curacao international scored his first Premier League goal in September, 2013 against Manchester City, but seeing that Aston Villa coaches often used him as a full back he was not impressive in front of goal in previous seasons.
Leandro Bacuna was born in Groningen on August 21, 1991 and it has to be noted that he received his first call-up for the Curacao national football team 25 years later, in March 2016. The two teams played out a 1-1 draw in San Salvador, with Bacuna picking up a yellow card in the 54th minute of the game.
Highlighted Team (Curacao):
Curacao national football team made their debut on the international stage back in 1924 under the name of Territory of Curacao national football team. The team recorded a 4-0 win over Aruba in their first ever friendly match and 30 years later the Territory of Curacao became the Netherlands Antilles, the country which included the islands of Bonaire, Aruba, Sint Eustatius, Saba and Sint Maarten as well.
In 2011 Curacao played their first game as an independent country, with the team suffering a 1-0 loss to Dominican Republic. Curacao have yet to book their place at the FIFA World Cup finals, but they made it to the finals of the CFU Carribean Cup on three occasions (1998, 2014, 2017). Speaking of their participation at the CONCACAF Championship, the team won bronze medal at both the 1963 and the 1969 tournaments.
In 1959 Curacao recorded their biggest win, with the team outclassing Puerto Rico 15-0. Stadion Ergilio Hato is the home ground of the Curacao national football team.