Curacao will wrap up their preparations for the 2026 World Cup when they host their Caribbean neighbours, Aruba, at the Ergilio Hato Stadium for an international friendly on Sunday, 7 June 2026, at 08:00 WITA (Lombok time, NTB).
The two sides last met in June 2024 during the World Cup qualification campaign, where Curacao secured a comfortable 2-0 win away from home.
The smallest nation by population to qualify for the World Cup made history when Curacao booked their place in the 2026 tournament — a monumental achievement that will forever hold a special place in the country’s sporting legacy.
Curacao will arrive as one of the tournament’s underdogs, and fate has not been kind to them, placing them in a challenging Group E alongside Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast.
Led by the oldest manager in World Cup history, 78-year-old Dick Advocaat, Curacao have every reason to dream after navigating the qualifiers unbeaten to earn their spot on football’s grandest stage.
The Blue Wave, currently ranked 82nd in the world, were flawless in the second phase of CONCACAF qualification, winning all four matches against Barbados, Saint Lucia, Aruba, and Haiti to secure their ticket to Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Recent form, however, has been less encouraging, with three consecutive defeats threatening to dampen morale. This friendly offers the perfect opportunity to rediscover confidence and rhythm ahead of the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Aruba enter this match with a different objective — not only to restore pride but also to continue their gradual progress on the international stage.
Ranked 189th in the world, Aruba remain far from competing with the region’s powerhouses, but facing a World Cup-bound opponent provides invaluable experience for this developing team.
Pre-World Cup friendlies often focus more on rhythm than results, and Aruba will relish the chance to test themselves against a side preparing for football’s biggest platform, while ensuring that Advocaat’s men do not have it easy.
Head coach Marvic Bermudez will be motivated by the fact that Aruba have quietly built decent form against teams of similar calibre, showing that progress is being made behind the scenes.
They enter this fixture unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions, having won their previous three against Liechtenstein, Macau, and Barbados — results that should boost confidence ahead of another tough test.
Curacao, the small Caribbean island home to over 150,000 people, have assembled a highly competitive squad for a nation of their size, with the spotlight expected to fall on brothers Juninho and Leandro Bacuna.
Juninho has been a key figure for Curacao over the years and, with his vast international experience and leadership qualities, perfectly embodies the resilience and ambition that have taken the Blue Wave to their historic World Cup qualification.
Miami FC striker Jurgen Locadia was sent off in their recent 4-1 defeat to Scotland, but aside from that setback, Advocaat faces no major injuries or suspensions ahead of this fixture.
Bermudez is expected to stick with his bold 3-4-3 system, with Gello Robertha emerging as one of Aruba’s brightest attacking talents alongside Carlito Fermina and Gianni Vandepitte in the final third.
Centre-back Kymani Nedd picked up an injury during the 4-1 win over Liechtenstein and could be rested as a precaution, potentially opening the door for Nickenson Paul to step into the starting lineup.
Curacao: Room; Fonville, Gaari, Bazoer, Obispo, Floranus; J. Bacuna, Comenencia; L. Bacuna, Chong, Hansen
Aruba: Lentink; Martis, Paul, Romano; Bennett, Marselia, Poulina, Curiel; Robertha, Fermina, Vandepitte
Curacao may have lost their last three matches, but the quality gap between the two sides remains significant, with Dick Advocaat’s team boasting greater experience, depth, and individual talent across the pitch.
Aruba have shown encouraging signs in recent months, but the World Cup-bound hosts should have enough strength and motivation to return to winning ways with a comfortable victory.
Predicted Score: Curacao 2-0 Aruba
Sports Mole predicts a 2-0 win for Curacao. However, TribunLombok’s version sees the hosts claiming a more convincing 3-0 victory.
Although Curacao are currently on a negative run with three straight defeats, the context of those losses is important — they came against much stronger opponents, including Scotland, who will feature at the World Cup. Now they face Aruba, ranked 189th by FIFA, over 100 places below Curacao, who sit 82nd.
Beyond individual quality, Curacao have strong motivation to regain confidence before embarking on their historic World Cup journey. Advocaat will certainly want his team to avoid heading into the world’s biggest tournament with four straight losses.
On paper, Curacao possess a far more mature squad. The presence of experienced players such as Juninho Bacuna, Leandro Bacuna, Eloy Room, and Tahith Chong gives them a level of quality that Aruba will struggle to match. Curacao’s midfield also offers superior ball control and distribution.
Aruba may be enjoying a positive spell with four unbeaten matches, but their victories over Liechtenstein, Macau, and Barbados cannot be compared to the challenge of facing a World Cup-qualified team. Moreover, most of those games were against opponents at a similar or lower level.
Playing at the Ergilio Hato Stadium will also serve as an additional advantage for Curacao. The home support and the pre-World Cup atmosphere are expected to push them to attack aggressively from the opening whistle.
TribunLombok Predicted Score: Curacao 3-0 Aruba. Curacao are expected to dominate the game, create numerous chances, and close out the match with a convincing win that will serve as vital momentum before facing Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast in Group E of the 2026 World Cup.
