"That is home home." That's how Tahith Chong described Curaçao when he chose to represent the island nation over the Netherlands in 2021 — and right now, he's literally the only player in their 26-man World Cup squad who was actually born there.
Every other player in Dick Advocaat's roster, from veteran goalkeeper Eloy Room to captain and top scorer Leandro Bacuna, was born in the Netherlands. Of the 48 nations at this World Cup, Curaçao sits at the extreme end of the naturalization spectrum. Eight teams have squads entirely made up of players born in their own country. Curaçao has one.
From Willemstad to Old Trafford
Chong was born in Willemstad at the turn of the millennium and left the island aged eight. By ten he was in Feyenoord's academy. By fourteen, Premier League clubs were already calling. He signed with Manchester United in 2016, made his Premier League debut in March 2019 — a one-minute cameo in a 3-2 win over Southampton — and scored his first league goal for Luton on loan against Liverpool.
At youth level he came through every Netherlands age group from Under-15 to Under-21. The Netherlands had first claim. He gave it up.
His international debut for Curaçao came in September 2025 in a CONCACAF qualifier against Trinidad. The game after that, against Bermuda, he scored twice and set up Tyrese Noslin for a third. A meniscus tear then wiped out the rest of his qualifying campaign, but he returned in time for their pre-tournament friendlies.
Chong faces Germany on debut
Now he's set to make his World Cup debut when Curaçao — making their first-ever appearance at the tournament — face four-time world champions Germany. The betting markets won't be kind to the Blue Wave in that fixture, and realistically they shouldn't be. But Chong is the player who gives Curaçao whatever attacking edge they have.
Back in the Caribbean, his 94-year-old grandmother is watching. She's waited long enough.
