It wasn’t just a loss. It was a reckoning. Bermuda was humiliated 0-7 by Curaçao on November 14, 2025, at the National Stadium in Hamilton, a result that buried any lingering dreams of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match, kicked off at 00:00 UTC, was the fifth and final outing for Bermuda in CONCACAF’s Third Round of qualifying — and it ended not with a whimper, but a deafening silence. Seven goals. Zero responses. No goals. No hope. Just a team left staring at a scoreboard that told the whole story: Bermuda had now lost all four of their qualifiers, with zero points and a -12 goal difference. Meanwhile, Curaçao walked off with eight points, still very much alive in the race.
The Collapse in Hamilton
The goals came in waves. Leandro Bacuna opened the scoring with a penalty in the 7th minute — calm, clinical. Juninho Bacuna doubled the lead just 25 minutes later, finishing a clever cross from his brother. By halftime, it was already 2-0, and the home crowd, sparse and somber, knew the script. The second half was worse. Jordi Paulina converted another penalty in the 48th minute, then added a second goal just 15 minutes later. S. Hansen made it 5-0 in the 59th, ArJany Martha sealed it in the 82nd, and Roshon van Eijma added insult to injury with a late strike in stoppage time. The final whistle didn’t just end the match — it ended Bermuda’s World Cup campaign.
What made it worse? The performances weren’t just poor — they were unrecognizable. Bermuda’s forwards, including top scorer D. Parfitt-Williams and Z. Lewis, were invisible. The midfield, supposed to be the engine, was overrun. Curaçao’s defense, meanwhile, stood firm, while their attack moved with precision. Juninho Bacuna didn’t just score — he orchestrated. His runs down the flank, his vision, his link-up play were the difference. And Leandro Bacuna? A veteran presence, pulling strings from deep, turning defense into attack like a conductor.
Where Did It Go Wrong?
Bermuda’s problems didn’t start on November 14. They’ve been building for years. Since 2018, they’ve played 16 World Cup qualifiers and won just one game — a 2-1 upset over the British Virgin Islands. Since then? Four losses in this cycle alone. And now, a -12 goal difference. That’s not bad luck. That’s systemic. The island’s population is under 70,000. The domestic league is semi-professional. Players juggle jobs. Training is inconsistent. The national team has no full-time coaching staff. Coach Michael Finley, who made three changes for this match, admitted after the game: “We’re trying to build something with very little.”
Compare that to Curaçao. Their federation invested in youth academies in the early 2010s. They recruited players with Dutch roots — fluent in European tactics, trained in professional environments. Their squad includes players from the Eredivisie, Belgium’s top leagues, and even MLS. Kastaneer, their leading scorer with five goals in five matches, plays for a top Dutch club. Gorré, with three goals, is a seasoned professional. This isn’t a team that got lucky. This is a team built for success.
The Ripple Effect
The fallout goes beyond points on a table. Bermuda’s collapse sends a chilling message to Caribbean football. It’s not just about talent — it’s about infrastructure. While Jamaica leads the group with nine points and Trinidad and Tobago sit third with five, Bermuda’s position at the bottom isn’t just embarrassing — it’s a warning. Without investment, without structure, without a long-term vision, even the most passionate football nations can vanish from the map.
Meanwhile, Curaçao stands two points behind Jamaica, with two games left. They’ve drawn with Jamaica and Trinidad. Beat them both, and they could finish second and advance to the next qualifying round — a historic achievement. Their captain, a 34-year-old veteran who led the team out in Hamilton, said after the match: “We didn’t come here to win by seven. We came here to win. And we did.”
What’s Next?
Bermuda’s next competitive match won’t be until 2028 — the next World Cup cycle. But the real question isn’t when they’ll play again. It’s whether they’ll have a team worth watching. The federation has pledged “a full review,” but promises are cheap. What’s needed is funding, coaching licenses, youth academies, and a professional pathway. Right now, Bermuda’s best players are scattered across England’s lower leagues and Canada’s minor circuits. They’re not being called home. They’re being forgotten.
Curaçao? They’ll be preparing for their next qualifier in March. Their players will return to their clubs, knowing they’ve done something rare: turned a small island into a regional force. Bermuda? They’ll be left wondering how long it’ll take to rebuild — if they even have the will to try.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Bermuda lose by such a large margin?
Bermuda’s loss wasn’t an anomaly — it was the result of decades of underinvestment. With no professional league, limited training resources, and players juggling full-time jobs, the team lacks the tactical discipline and physical conditioning seen in regional rivals like Curaçao. Their squad is assembled from semi-pros and expats, while Curaçao fields professionals from Europe’s top leagues.
How does Curaçao’s team compare to other CONCACAF nations?
Curaçao punches above its weight. With players from the Netherlands, Belgium, and MLS, they’ve built a hybrid squad that blends Caribbean flair with European professionalism. Their 2-2-0 record places them second in the group behind Jamaica, ahead of Trinidad and Tobago. They’re now one of the most competitive small nations in CONCACAF, rivaling even larger countries like Haiti and Guyana.
What’s Bermuda’s historical record in World Cup qualifiers?
Bermuda has never qualified for a World Cup. Since 1980, they’ve entered every qualifying campaign but won only two matches total — one in 2019 against the British Virgin Islands, and another in 1985 against the Cayman Islands. Their goal difference across all qualifiers is -142. This 0-7 loss marks their worst defeat since a 0-8 loss to Honduras in 2000.
Who were the key players for Curaçao in this match?
Leandro Bacuna opened the scoring with a penalty and provided the assist for Juninho Bacuna’s goal. Juninho dominated the midfield with three key passes and constant pressure. Jordi Paulina scored twice, including a penalty, while Roshon van Eijma and ArJany Martha added late goals. Goalkeeper G. Kastaneer, though not credited with a clean sheet, made two critical saves under pressure.
Did betting markets reflect the expected outcome?
Yes. Bookmakers had Curaçao as -500 favorites, meaning a $500 bet would return $600 total. The over/under line was set at 3.25 goals — and with seven scored, those who bet the over won. The result was widely anticipated by analysts, given Bermuda’s winless streak and Curaçao’s strong form in previous matches.
Can Bermuda still qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
No. With four losses and zero points, Bermuda is mathematically eliminated from contention. They finished last in their group, 12 goals behind the group leader. Even a win in their final match wouldn’t have been enough — the gap was too wide. Their next chance won’t come until the 2030 qualifiers, if they can rebuild at all.
