Nov 30

Who Are The Netherlands Antilles?

Share post on:
If you asked people about the Netherlands Antilles you'd probably be greeted by confused looks, as most people won't even have heard of them. The Netherlands Antilles (also known as the Dutch Antilles) are a small collection of islands in the Caribbean Sea, with a total population of just under 200,000. The small population means that they rarely make an impact in the grand scheme of things. However, that is not true in UFWC circles, because for a brief period in the 60s they were the unofficial champions of the world. On March 24th 1963, they faced then-champions Mexico in the CONCACAF Cup, in a match which they were thoroughly expected to lose. However in what is argubally the greatest upset in UFWC history, they won 2-1 to claim the trophy. Sadly they did lose the title in their first attempted defence against Costa Rica four days later, but that doesn't take away from the great accomplishment, as they became the smallest nation to ever hold the UFWC title. So why are we bringing this up now? Because they will never have the opportunity to repeat the feat again; not in their current form, at least. On October 10th this year, the Netherlands Antilles are scheduled to be dissolved, meaning that the individual islands will go their separate ways to either join up with other nations or become single entities. So what does that mean for the UFWC and who will officially be credited with the victory? A few months ago I contacted FIFA and the Netherlands Antilles FA to find the answer (the details of which you can find here in our forum). In the end, I discovered that the island of Curacao will be credited with all of the Netherlands Antilles' records. But that doesn't change what was accomplished by the Netherlands Antilles, so even though the name may change in the rankings, it will still be the Dutch Antilles who played the match, and will be credited as such. Eventually someone may overthrow the Netherlands Antilles as the smallest nation to claim the title, it may even be Curacao, their spiritual successors. But even if that does happen, and even though the Dutch Antilles in its current incarnation will be gone in less than three months, they will live on in the UFWC, and the hearts of its followers.

Related offers

3.5
£20 FreeBet Backup Bet Offer

European Betting Goliath - 30,000 bets daily in an astounding 90+ sports.

New UK customers only. To claim, the first bet must be on sporting events other than horse racing, with a minimum of three selections. Each selection must be priced at odds of 2/1 (3.0) or above and the stakes range from a minimum of £10 up to a maximum of £20. Deposits made via Skrill, Entropay, PAYPAL and Neteller do not qualify for this offer. Must be used within 7 days of it being issued.

4
Up To £40 Money Back If Your Bet Loses+ £10 Casino Bonus

Reliable and solid Bookmaker with a great platform. Great rewards for existing customers and massive refer-a-friend incentives. Very quick withdrawals.

New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first racing bet loses. Wagering: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Sports bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Full T&Cs apply.

5
Bet £10 & Get £30 In Free Bets

Rated #1 Online Football Bookmaker.

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

4.5
Stake £10, Get £50 In Bonuses!

The Bonus King - Betfred offers tantalising one-of-a-kind bets, such as Goals Galore, Double Delight and Hat-trick Heaven.

New customers only. Register (excl. 13/04/24) with WELCOME50. First bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get Free Bets: £20 In-Play, £20 Acca & 50 x £0.20 (£10) Free Spins on Fishin’ Frenzy within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.

3.5
Welcome Bonus - Bet £10 Get £15

Explore classic, video, arcade slots, sports betting and live casino with Mr Play.

This offer is for new customers only and is available once per household. Minimum deposit and wagering on sport to activate the Bet token is £10. The Welcome Bet token must be used at www.mrplay.com within 14 days of being credited to your account. Offer only applies to players who are residents of United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Finland, Germany and Canada.