From New Jersey, where the world’s attention is focused on football, their message resonates clearly: no community is too small to make history, and no dream is too ambitious for those willing to work tirelessly to achieve it.
By Ali Dan Ismael, from MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, for The Independentist News
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY — As the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfolds across North America, two of the tournament’s most remarkable stories belong not to the traditional giants of world football but to two small nations that have defied expectations and captured the imagination of millions. Curaçao and Cape Verde, countries with populations that would barely fill some of the stadiums hosting World Cup matches, have earned their places on football’s grandest stage. Their achievements carry a messages that extend far beyond sport and offer very inspiring lessons for peoples and communities around the world, including Ambazonians.
Walking among the crowds at MetLife Stadium, one hears conversations in dozens of languages and sees flags from every continent. Yet amid the excitement surrounding football’s superpowers, many supporters have been captivated by the unlikely journeys of Curaçao and Cape Verde.
Curaçao, with a population of approximately 156,000, has become the smallest country ever to qualify for a men’s FIFA World Cup. Cape Verde, an island nation of just over half a million people off the coast of West Africa, has also secured its place among the world’s football elite. Their presence at this tournament is a powerful reminder that greatness is not measured by size.
For decades, both nations were regarded as outsiders in international football. They lacked the resources, infrastructure, and global recognition enjoyed by larger countries. Yet they refused to allow these limitations to define their future. Instead, they invested in their people, strengthened their football institutions, embraced their diaspora communities, and nurtured a collective belief that qualification for the World Cup was not merely a dream but an achievable goal.
Their success did not happen overnight. It was built through years of perseverance, sacrifice, and determination. Players born and raised thousands of miles away proudly chose to represent the lands of their parents and grandparents. Coaches, administrators, and supporters worked tirelessly to build competitive national teams capable of challenging more established football nations. Along the way, they faced setbacks and disappointments, but they never abandoned their vision.
The result is now visible for the entire world to see. Nations once considered too small to compete at the highest level are standing shoulder to shoulder with football’s giants. Their qualification demonstrates that population size does not determine destiny. What matters is organization, commitment, unity, and belief.
For Ambazonians watching from home and across the diaspora, the stories of Curaçao and Cape Verde carry a special significance. They illustrate how a people can preserve and express their identity through shared purpose and collective effort. They show that communities scattered across different countries can remain connected by common aspirations. Most importantly, they prove that obstacles which appear overwhelming can be overcome through persistence and determination.
The lesson from MetLife Stadium is simple but profound. History is filled with examples of small peoples accomplishing extraordinary things because they refused to accept the limits imposed upon them by others. Curaçao and Cape Verde have added a new chapter to that history. Their achievement reminds us that success belongs not only to the powerful and the numerous, but also to those who possess the courage to dream and the discipline to pursue those dreams relentlessly.
As the World Cup continues, supporters from Curaçao and Cape Verde will celebrate more than football victories. They will celebrate the triumph of belief over doubt and perseverance over adversity. Their journey stands as a testament to what can be achieved when a people remain united in purpose and confident in their potential.
From New Jersey, where the world’s attention is focused on football, their message resonates clearly: no community is too small to make history, and no dream is too ambitious for those willing to work tirelessly to achieve it.
Ali Dan Ismael from the jubilant crowd of soccer fans in New Jersey
Leave feedback about this