Just weeks before the 2026 World Cup, Dick Advocaat is set to reclaim his place on the bench.
Having stepped away last February due to family reasons related to his daughter’s health, the 78-year-old coach had handed the reins to Fred Rutten.
But Rutten’s stint would prove to be remarkably brief. After two defeats at the FIFA Series tournament in Australia, tension quickly mounted around the squad.
It’s reported that both players and sponsors strongly pushed for Advocaat’s return, seeing him as the architect of the project after he guided Curaçao to their first-ever World Cup qualification.
Despite the federation’s public support for Fred Rutten, the mounting pressure proved overwhelming.
The Dutch manager ultimately chose to step aside to avoid further instability on the eve of the tournament.
Advocaat’s much-anticipated return is a powerful symbol for this Caribbean nation, which now dreams of making a memorable debut on the world stage.
Curaçao finds itself in Group E alongside Germany, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador.
