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.
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
| Offer | Bonus | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
Dafabet
|
50% Bonus On Sports Up To £60Dafabet offers over 30,000 live betting events every month. It's the place for sports betting and casino games. This promotion is exclusive for new players. This promotion is available for player located in Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, or Sweden. There is a minimum deposit requirement of EUR15/USD10 in order for you to be eligible for the bonus. Only Sports bets will be counted for the wagering requirement. Draw, voided, cashed out and refunded bets will not count towards any wagering requirement calculation. Wagering Requirement: 15x (Deposit + Bonus) on odds 1.50 and above to be able to withdraw. |
||
Betfair
|
Bet £10 On The Sportsbook & Get £30 In Free Bets#1 Rated Betting Exchange Bookmaker. New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. |
||
888Sport
|
Bet £10, Get £30 In Free Bets!+ £10 Casino BonusRated #1 choice for Punters who like to bet on accumulators. Min deposit £10. A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10. Min odds 1/2 (1.50). Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days. Free Bet stakes not included in returns. Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days. Bonus valid on selected Casino games only. Bonus wins capped at £500, excluding Jackpot wins. You must wager Bonus amount x40 – this requirement varies by game. T&Cs apply. |
||
Mr Play
|
Welcome Bonus - Bet £10 Get £15Explore 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. |
||
Bwin
|
£20 FreeBet Backup Bet OfferEuropean 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. |
3.5
Dafabet
50% Bonus On Sports Up To £60
Dafabet offers over 30,000 live betting events every month. It's the place for sports betting and casino games.
This promotion is exclusive for new players. This promotion is available for player located in Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, or Sweden. There is a minimum deposit requirement of EUR15/USD10 in order for you to be eligible for the bonus. Only Sports bets will be counted for the wagering requirement. Draw, voided, cashed out and refunded bets will not count towards any wagering requirement calculation. Wagering Requirement: 15x (Deposit + Bonus) on odds 1.50 and above to be able to withdraw.
5
Betfair
Bet £10 On The Sportsbook & Get £30 In Free Bets
#1 Rated Betting Exchange Bookmaker.
New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply.
4
888Sport
Bet £10, Get £30 In Free Bets!+ £10 Casino Bonus
Rated #1 choice for Punters who like to bet on accumulators.
Min deposit £10. A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10. Min odds 1/2 (1.50). Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days. Free Bet stakes not included in returns. Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days. Bonus valid on selected Casino games only. Bonus wins capped at £500, excluding Jackpot wins. You must wager Bonus amount x40 – this requirement varies by game. T&Cs apply.
3.5
Mr Play
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.
3.5
Bwin
£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.