Dick Advocaat: Oldest Coach in World Cup History, Surpasses Otto Rehhagel

The Curaçao national team has qualified for the 2026 World Cup, making the small Caribbean island nation, with approximately 157,000 inhabitants, the smallest country by population to participate in the tournament.

Dutch coach Dick Advocaat is expected to become the oldest coach to sit on a national team bench in a World Cup final, surpassing Otto Rehhagel's record. The 78-year-old Advocaat will surpass Rehhagel, who was 72 years old when he led the Greek National Team at the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

Advocaat has previous experience in the World Cup, having coached the Netherlands in 1994 and South Korea in 2006.

The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19, with the final taking place in New Jersey, New York.