Story perspectives

Airline Owner Threatens €1 M Cut Over Curacao Coach Return

5/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

Atilay Uslu, owner of Corendon Airlines, threatened to pull more than €1 million in annual funding unless Curacao reinstated Dick Advocaat as national team coach.
Advocaat, 78, returned as head coach after stepping down in February to care for his daughter, whose health has now improved.
Curacao, the smallest nation ever to qualify, opens Group E against Germany in Houston on June 14, 2026, after Fred Rutten resigned citing a damaging professional climate.

History

Historical Context

Jamaica became the first Caribbean nation to reach a FIFA World Cup when it qualified for the 1998 finals in France, a tournament expanded to 32 teams and featuring other debutants Croatia, Japan and South Africa. The Jamaica Football Federation, founded in 1910 and a FIFA member since 1962, oversaw the historic run.

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Story summary

Atilay Uslu, owner of Corendon Airlines, threatened to pull more than €1 million in annual funding unless Curacao reinstated Dick Advocaat as national team coach.
Advocaat, 78, returned as head coach after stepping down in February to care for his daughter, whose health has now improved.
Curacao, the smallest nation ever to qualify, opens Group E against Germany in Houston on June 14, 2026, after Fred Rutten resigned citing a damaging professional climate.

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