Sport = Power

We know this already. But it's worth repeating for the umpteenth time.

Curaçao’s place at the 2026 World Cup is not a fairy tale, it is the outcome of years of planning, investment, and clear priorities. Ten years ago, people laughed at the idea that Curaçao could reach this level in football. The island stayed the course. It built programs, invested in coaching and development, and treated sport as a serious national project. Now the payoff is on the biggest stage in world sport.

Over the past two years, the St. Maarten Sports Federation has pushed to professionalize local sport, strengthen the structure of federations and clubs, and press home the importance of sound planning and governance. That effort deserves more than polite praise. If we want results like Curaçao’s, talent alone will not be enough. We need consistent structures, clear development plans, and cooperation between federations, schools, government, and the private sector.

The power of sport is also deeply social. Imagine what Curaçao’s victory has done for young boys and girls who play football or any other sport. Curaçao already had a strong record in sports development and has produced world-class athletes. This World Cup ticket shows young people that the system works, that discipline and a long-term plan can take you from small fields to a global audience. Living examples of success shape a child’s sense of what is possible in a way that speeches never can.

Their effort of the Sports Federation must now be joined by a focused, collective push (stress on 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦) built on planning and governance, with long-term sustainability and growth as the goal. Are we prepared to match Curacao's and other Caribbean nations' level of intent and treat sport as a long-term national investment? Truth be told, we are seeing movement, which is encouraging.

The power of sport is amazing. It moves economies, its move youth, it cures social ills, if only to instill hope. The power of sport is truly 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭. May we find the focus to embrace it.

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