What does the World Cup draw hold for Cape Verde and Curaçao?

The draw for the 2026 World Cup is looming, and whether your nation is in it or not, most football fans will be watching avidly and plotting paths through the largest football tournament of all time. But what's it like for fans of countries who are appearing at the finals for the first time?

George Santos was a Cape Verde international between 2002-04, when they had only just competed in their first-ever World Cup qualifying campaign. Now that they've reached the finals for the first time in their history, he tells Mani Djazmi why it means so much to the country.

Journalist Carl Ruiter says the feeling is mutual in his native Curaçao. The Dutch Caribbean Island is home to 150,000 inhabitants, making them the smallest nation by population ever to qualify for the World Cup. Carl explains why some Curaçaoans are willing to sell their house just so they can be at the greatest show on earth.

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