From Curacao to Cape Verde, small but mighty nations made the World Cup special

When we look back at the 2026 World Cup in a few decades, what will we remember most? There will be plenty of them. Spain triumphs over Argentina, reigning champions. The race for the Golden Boot of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland. The Scottish Tartan Army drinks Boston Dry. Norwegian fans introduce the world to Viking Row. We will remember that it was the biggest World Cup ever – the first with 48 teams – and how, for 39 glorious days, the tournament captivated billions of people around the world. We will remember that while the United States Men’s National Team did not reach the deeper journey that many envisioned, it reignited interest in soccer in the United States. The full impact of this group won’t be known for years, but in time we’ll see how they inspired the next generation of players and fans. There are countless storylines that will define this summer, and we could talk about them forever. But what stood out most was how the smaller nations rose to the occasion and produced some of the most special performances. There was skepticism when FIFA expanded the field of teams from 32 to 48. Critics questioned whether these teams would dilute the quality of play and whether fans would tune in to these matches. It turns out it brought new energy to the World Cup. New countries introduced us to their cultures, their stars and their memorable moments. Of course, the biggest blowout of the tournament came when Germany crushed debutant Curaçao 7-1 in their first match of the group stage. But it was a monumental experience for Curaçao, the smallest nation in this World Cup. The island’s population is approximately 158,000, and its total area is 171 square miles, seven times smaller than Rhode Island. It’s a country that is passionate about football and thousands of fans were in attendance for this match against the four-time World Cup champions. Germany led 1-0 six minutes later, but in the 21st minute, Curaçao midfielder Livano Comenencia made history by scoring his country’s first ever World Cup goal. And for the next 17 minutes, the game was tied. “We fought really hard to be here,” Comenencia said after the match. “It’s just beautiful, my dream has come true.” Then there was the match. Goalkeeper Eloy Room made 15 spectacular saves to lead Curacao to a 1-1 draw against Ecuador and secure their first ever point of the tournament. Room’s performance was legendary and marks the second most saves in a single World Cup match behind Tim Howard’s 16 against Belgium in 2014. Telling the story of Curacao’s journey to the World Cup was one of my all-time favorite pieces of our coverage. It was fascinating to learn that the entire team, except for one player, was born in the Netherlands and that each of them made a conscious decision to build something in their home country. The work paid off and they inspired future generations to continue. There is also the remarkable and improbable journey of Cape Verde during its first World Cup. While I was on my way to US training in Seattle, my Uber driver told me he was from Cameroon and had never even heard of Cape Verde. By now, of course, everyone has done it. Cape Verde leveled all three of their group stage matches, including holding eventual champions Spain to a goalless draw. Goalkeeper Vozinha instantly became a folk hero, making seven heroic saves in this match. The Blue Sharks were the only team La Roja did not beat. Later, in the round of 16 against Argentina – because yes, Cape Verde reached the round of 16 of their very first World Cup – Vozinha was magnificent again. He has repeatedly turned down some of the world’s greatest players, including Messi. And when Sidney Lopes Cabral scored a superb equalizer in extra time, the cameras caught some of their fans all losing their minds. For a few minutes it looked like things were heading towards penalties until an own goal gave Argentina the 3-2 victory. The whole team was a joy to watch and Vozinha in particular – who, by the way, is 40 years old and has seen around 20 million followers on social media – is said to have subsequently swapped shirts with Messi. Curaçao and Cape Verde made headlines, but other countries also left their mark. DR Congo drew level with Portugal in their first match and made England nervous in the round of 16. Egypt advanced to the round of 16 by beating Australia on penalties before pushing Argentina to the brink in a 3-2 defeat. Paraguay beat Germany on penalties in what was considered one of the biggest upsets of the knockout stage, before narrowly losing 1-0 to France in the round of 16. So while we will think of Spain winning their second World Cup title and perhaps seeing Messi on this stage for the last time, we will also remember the countries that made significant progress and produced unforgettable performances.