Hundreds of Curaçao fans gathered after Sunday’s match against Germany in Helix Park to celebrate the country’s first FIFA World Cup appearance and cheer on the Netherlands as it played Japan. 

For many supporters, the moment was years in the making. Fans described the atmosphere as jubilant, electric and emotional as they watched their nation’s World Cup journey begin. 

As a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Curaçao supporters have traditionally rooted for the Dutch national team at World Cups. On Sunday, however, the blue of Curaçao dominated Helix Park despite splashes of Dutch orange throughout the crowd. 

The event, Blue Wave Village, was organized by the Curaçao tourism board to celebrate the accomplishments of the country. 

“(To) showcase how we celebrate life, how we celebrate sports, and get to know our island a little bit better, get to know our people a little bit better, that’s the most important part,” said Muryad de Bruin, the managing director of the Curaçao Tourism Board. 

One Netherlands fan said it was surreal to watch Curaçao take the field in Houston. On an island with a population of about 158,000 people, the close-knit nature of the community was evident throughout the day.

As people filed into the event, greetings took place across the park. Friends embraced, neighbors greeted one another and supporters exchanged hugs and kisses as they celebrated a moment decades in the making. 

That sense of community carried over from the stadium and to Blue Wave Village 

Supporters waved flags, sang chants and erupted whenever Curaçao created a scoring chance. 

Although the result did not go Curaçao’s way,  many supporters said the goal represented something bigger than the scoreline. It was proof that their country belonged on soccer’s biggest stage. 

Curaçao’s World Cup journey is not over. The team still has group-stage matches remaining in Kansas City and Philadelphia; their fans and community plan on traveling and sticking with the team till the very end. 

“Euphoric. That’s the word, that’s the main thing,” de Bruin said. “We’re euphoric when it comes to our participation and the feeling (is)  happiness. Seeing our flag on the pitch, and our national anthem, it’s amazing.”