Dr Suzanne Huurman of Curacao is serving as head of medical staff for the men's national team at the 2026 World Cup, becoming only the third-ever female head of medical staff in the tournament's 96-year history. She follows Dr Celeste Geertsema (New Zealand, 2010) and Dr Silja Schwarz (Germany, 2023).
Curacao, a Caribbean island of 158,000 people, qualified for the World Cup unbeaten with 7 wins and 3 draws. The federation traveled with 49 people—players and staff—with Huurman as the sole woman among them. She previously worked with Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, and Go Ahead Eagles before joining Curacao's setup.
Huurman emphasized that succeeding in male-dominated environments requires demonstrating quality and capability. She expressed hope for increased female representation in football's medical roles, noting that abundant talent exists in the field.
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