In case somebody doesn't know, the Netherlands Antilles do not exist anymore: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_the_Netherlands_Antilles But as it says in the article, they're still competing under that name. What's gonna happen next?? Will Curazao, Bonaire and the others get their own teams like Aruba or what???
The strange thing is that, despite being under the banner of the Netherlands Antilles, the flag they had at the DCC was that of Curacao.
It sounds to me that only curacao will be a new country, and since the Netherlands Antilles is going away we still have the same number of teams. unless Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius want to do like Guadalupe and still have their own teams.
Curaçao will take over Netherlands Antilles' place in FIFA, CONCACAF and CFU. The first ABCS Tournament will begin today in Curaçao. (note the ç in Curaçao - this is a pronunciation aid to make the 'c' sound like 's'). This is set to become an annual event. Semi-Finals Curaçao v Aruba (this will be a FIFA 'A' international match) Suriname v Bonaire The Final and 3rd place match will be played on Sunday.
Suriname squad for ABCS: Obrendo Huiswoud, Firgillio Lamsberg, Roche Emanuelson, Zhirvano Darson, Foline Abauna, Marlon Felter, Derrick Garden, Naldo Kwasie, Kenneth Moennoe, Stefano Baneti, Wensley Christoph, Emilio Limón, Regillio Pinas, Germaine van Dijk, Ives Vlijter, Stefano Rijssel, Gregory Righters
Sint Maarten will also be a new country, and in the past has had a national team compete in the Carribean nations cup (ala Guadeloupe or Martenique). So they can and should apply for FIFA membership.
Varies from island to island. The Dutch government held a referendum on the islands and each population pretty much picked a different option. Bonaire chose to have the status of a Dutch municipality. Bonaire is now as Dutch as Amsterdam is, and definitely not a country anymore. Aruba already had a 'status aparte' and they're keeping that. Not sure about Curacao but I do know that they no longer have an olympic status. Several athletes from Curacao now represent the Netherlands.
Generally speaking, my understanding was that Curacao and Sint Maartin now have the same status as Aruba and the remaining parts (Bonaire, Saba, and Saint Eustatius) elected to have closer ties to the Netherlands as special municipalities. I know I am oversimplifying things but to me this meant that from the former Netherlands Antilles only Curacao and Sint Maartin would be eligible to join FIFA and compete in FIFA events (i.e. WC Qualification).
Curacao already is listed in the 'Association' on Fifa.com. There's so well-updated results and standings under the flag of Curacao who until recently was a Netherlands Antilles. But Sint-Maartin was not there as well and there...
