Advocaat Leaves Curaçao Camp Before World Cup Decider Against Jamaica

When Dick Advocaat, 78, stepped off the team bus in Kingston on November 14, 2025, he barely had time to unpack. By the next morning, he was on a flight back to the Netherlands — not because of illness, not because of pressure, but because family called. The Curaçao Football Federation announced his sudden departure on Saturday evening, citing "private circumstances" and "family reasons." Advocaat, one of the most decorated coaches in international football, had just overseen a 7-0 thrashing of Bermuda. Now, with his team sitting atop Group B with 11 points, just one ahead of Jamaica, he was gone — leaving behind a squad that could make history.

One Draw Away From History

The stakes couldn’t be higher. On Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 8:00 pm local time, Kingston’s National Stadium will host a match that could rewrite the record books. Curaçao, a Caribbean island with a population of just 150,000, needs only a draw to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. A win by Jamaica, meanwhile, sends the Reggae Boyz through. No nation smaller than Curaçao has ever reached the World Cup finals. Not Luxembourg. Not Iceland. Not even San Marino. This isn’t just a qualifier. It’s a potential seismic moment for global football.

Advocaat didn’t just arrive in Kingston. He arrived with purpose. The Dutch legend, who’s managed the Netherlands, Russia, South Korea, and Belgium over five decades, had been quietly assembling a squad of Dutch-born players with Curaçaoan roots. Twenty-two of them. Players like Eloy Room, the goalkeeper who plays for Feyenoord, and Leandro Bacuna, the captain who once played for Aston Villa. They didn’t just come for the jersey. They came for the legacy.

The Unseen Coach

Advocaat’s absence doesn’t mean silence. The Curaçao Football Federation confirmed he’ll remain in daily contact with assistant coaches Dean Gorré and Cor Pot. They’ll run the drills, handle the press, and make the in-game substitutions. But the tactical blueprint? That’s still Advocaat’s. He’s watching from his home in the Netherlands, analyzing video clips, sending messages, offering advice. "He’s still the coach," said Gorré in a quiet moment before training. "We’re just the hands that carry out his vision."

It’s an unusual arrangement — a head coach leading a World Cup qualifier from 5,000 miles away. But then again, this isn’t a typical campaign. Curaçao’s journey has been defined by resilience. They lost their first two qualifiers. Then they won four straight. The 7-0 win over Bermuda wasn’t just a result. It was a statement. And now, with Advocaat gone, the players are carrying more than just a team — they’re carrying his promise.

"We Play for Him"

In the locker room, the mood isn’t one of panic. It’s one of quiet determination. "It’s bad news," admitted Eloy Room to Dutch TV. "But we understand. Family comes first. That’s what he taught us." Leandro Bacuna, who’s worn the captain’s armband since 2021, put it bluntly in an interview with Algemeen Dagblad: "We started this all together. Now we want to finish it together." He paused, then added, "This is a lot bigger. Then we were playing for a club. Now it’s for our country. You cannot compare it. We are going to do it here for the country — and for our coach Dick Advocaat." The emotional weight is palpable. When Bacuna speaks, you hear the pride of a player who grew up in the Netherlands but chose to represent a nation his grandparents left behind. When Room speaks, you hear the quiet dignity of a man who’s seen the world but still feels the pull of home.

What Happens If They Win?

If Curaçao draws or wins on Tuesday, they’ll become the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup. That’s not just a footnote. It’s a cultural milestone. Imagine: a tiny island with no professional league, no stadiums bigger than 10,000 seats, no FIFA funding — standing shoulder to shoulder with Brazil, Germany, and the United States. The Kingston National Stadium is sold out. Fans from across the Caribbean have flown in. Jamaican supporters, too, are coming not just to cheer their team, but to witness history.

Steve McClaren, Jamaica’s manager and former England boss, knows the stakes. His team lost 2-0 to Curaçao in October. Now, they’re desperate. "They’re not just a team," he told reporters. "They’re a movement."

And yet, for all the drama, there’s something almost beautiful about the timing. Advocaat, a man who’s won league titles and managed giants, chose to walk away from the spotlight — not because he couldn’t handle the pressure, but because he refused to let football cost him his family. That’s the kind of decision that resonates beyond tactics and standings.

What’s Next?

After Tuesday, Advocaat’s future with Curaçao remains unclear. He’s 78. He’s been coaching since 1975. This could be his final assignment. But if Curaçao qualifies, he’ll be remembered not as the man who left — but as the man who built something no one thought possible.

For now, the players are focused. They’ve trained without him. They’ve spoken without him. They’ve dreamed without him. And on Tuesday night, under the lights of Kingston, they’ll play for him — and for every kid on Curaçao who ever believed they could be more than their size.