CURACAO salvaged a 0-0 draw with Jamaica on Tuesday to become the smallest nation by population to qualify for a World Cup and will be joined by Concacaf sides Panama and Haiti who also booked their spots.

Curacao finished as the only undefeated nation in the tournament and finished atop of Group B with 12 points to advance to the World Cup for the first time in its history.

Curacao secured the historic result despite not having coach Dick Advocaat on the sidelines. The 78-year-old Advocaat missed the crucial match because he had to return to the Netherlands last weekend for family reasons.

Advocaat was at the helm of the Netherlands national team for three stints and managed South Korea, Belgium and Russia before taking the job with Curacao.

Jamaica came close to taking the lead in the 54th minute with a header from Greg Leigh that bounced off the right post. Two more headers rattled the posts as Jamaica pushed in search of the winner, with Shamar Nicholson hitting the crossbar in the 70th minute and Bailey Cadamarteri the right post in the 87th.

In stoppage time, Jamaica was awarded a penalty after substitute Jeremy Antonisse’s sliding tackle brought down Dujuan Richards in the area. But it was overturned after a video review.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics in Curacao, the country has a population of 156,115 as of last January. Iceland, with a population of just over 350,000 was the smallest country to reach the World Cup when it qualified for the tournament in Russia in 2018.

Panama advanced to its second World Cup after defeating El Salvador 3-0 with first-half goals from Cesar Blackman (17) and Erick Davis (45). Jose Luis Rodriguez (85) added a goal for the Panamanians, who have Russia 2018 as their only World Cup appearance.

Panama finished as the best team in Group A with 12 points while Suriname, which came into the last round leading the way on goal difference, lost 3-1 against Guatemala and finished in second place with nine points.

Haiti, a troubled Caribbean country, had a surprising campaign, winning Group C over favourites Honduras and Costa Rica after beating Nicaragua 2-0.

Loicious Deedson opened the scoring in the ninth minute and Ruben Providence added a goal in the 45th. Haiti’s only previous trip to the World Cup was in Germany in 1974.

The Concacaf results on Tuesday finalised the six teams who will take part in the intercontinental play-offs in Mexico in March next year. Two teams will qualify from the play-offs which includes Iraq in Asia, Congo in Africa, Jamaica and Suriname from Concacaf, Bolivia from South America and New Caledonia from Oceania.