PARAMARIBO, Suriname — Despite the referee’s whistle, the fans at Franklin Essed Stadion remained in their seats. The drummers kept the rhythm, the horn players continued their tunes, and the Suriname men’s national team took a celebratory lap around the field.
Though it seemed the hosts, affectionately known as the Natio, were on the verge of their first defeat in World Cup qualifying, a dramatic last-minute goal from Virgil Misidjan secured a 1-1 draw against Guatemala, earning a valuable point. Misidjan’s powerful strike, which nearly collided with his own goalkeeper, Etienne Vaessen, sent the crowd into raptures as it bypassed Gautemalan goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen to equalize.
With the qualification round halfway through, Suriname sits at the top of Group A. This marks the closest the country has come to qualifying since the 1970s, and if they can maintain this position for three more matches, the dream of participating in their first World Cup could become a reality.
After the match on Friday, Vaessen found himself surrounded by enthusiastic fans along the barrier, with numerous requests for selfies and autographs.
Although they are national icons, neither Vaessen nor Misidjan was actually born in Suriname; only one player from Friday’s match, forward Gleofilo Vlijter, hails from the country. The rest of the team members, whose heritage traces back to the Netherlands—Suriname’s colonizer until 1975—are eligible to play based on their parentage.
Nonetheless, as the crowd clamored around Vaessen, it became evident: this is indeed Suriname’s team.
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“Football is cherished here,” Vassen expressed to ESPN. “Initially, there were doubts—’Oh, the players are from Europe,’—but I feel a sense of belonging here. I give my all for this country, and they reciprocate. I find joy in making time for a selfie that brings happiness to fans. It matters a lot.”
Soccer has deep roots in Suriname. The club Transvaal has lifted the Concacaf Champions Cup twice, and players from Suriname have significantly influenced Dutch football. Legends like Edgar Davids, Aron Winter, and Clarence Seedorf were born here but went on to represent the Netherlands, as did current Suriname manager Stanley Menzo and his assistant Henk Fraser.
However, for many years, soccer in Suriname was stagnant. While FIFA regulations allow players with a grandparent from the country to obtain a passport since 2021, this was only made feasible when the Surinamese government decreed that athletes could hold dual nationality while playing.
This shift was initiated by former Suriname manager Dean Gorré, who successfully pushed for the change after leading the team to its first Gold Cup appearance in 36 years.
“Qualifying for the Gold Cup with a team of amateurs was remarkable,” Gorré reflected. “We constantly engaged with governmental leaders to emphasize the importance of representing Suriname and the potential benefits. Eventually, they were receptive to our discussions.”
Since then, numerous players eager to don the national colors have joined the squad, contributing significantly towards Suriname’s ambitions of competing for a World Cup spot—an aspiration many never thought possible.
This success is a point of pride for Menzo, who recalls fondly how soccer was a source of happiness in his childhood in Paramaribo, where he honed his skills as a goalkeeper, becoming a standout figure under the new Ajax manager Johan Cruyff in the mid-80s, garnering accolades including two European trophies in over 200 appearances.
🇸🇷 Witness the jubilations at Essed Stadium following Suriname’s last-minute equalizer, which keeps the Natio at the forefront of Group A—leading up to tonight’s other match. pic.twitter.com/zpC3UDoKIt
— Jon Arnold (@ArnoldcommaJon) October 10, 2025
“When I left in 1971, this country felt like a paradise,” Menzo recounted to ESPN. “Regular visits allowed me to witness its decline.”
The coup following Suriname’s independence in 1975 created a power void that was eventually exploited by the military in 1980. One particularly dark episode during this period was the execution of more than a dozen opposition figures in December 1982 by coup leader Dési Bouterse, including André Kamperveen. Kamperveen, the first Surinamese player to participate in the Netherlands’ top league, later became a national team captain and a FIFA vice president, advocating for Surinamese football until his untimely death.
Years later, a social worker named Sonny Hasnoe coordinated a group of Surinamese professionals in the Netherlands, known as the “Colorful Eleven,” to play exhibition matches, including a series in Suriname in the late ’80s. However, tragedy struck in 1989 when Surinam Airways Flight 764 crashed, killing 178 people, including 15 members of the Colorful Eleven traveling party. Menzo was fortunate to arrive in Suriname a day earlier.
“Memories of that day will always resurface,” Menzo reflected. “The date—June 7—will forever be etched in our minds. Yet, we focus on the present and cherish moments in our past.”
Currently, the Natio is creating a cause for celebration, having recently drawn against Panama and claimed victory against El Salvador, alongside the draw that sparked their celebrations.
“We strive to provide a sense of positivity,” Menzo conveyed. “Our goal is to uplift our nation through soccer. Football, above all, represents a universal sport. It’s widely cherished here.”
“We take immense pride as Surinamese individuals. It’s fulfilling to restore that pride. For too long, Suriname has been linked with negativity in the news, and now we have something positive to highlight.”
This hope resonates not only within Suriname but also among families and the diaspora in Europe.
“Coming from Amsterdam, I frequently encounter conversations about Suriname and our quest for qualification,” winger Sheraldo Becker shared with ESPN. “There’s a collective wish for us to succeed, and we are motivated to achieve it for our country—for them, even more than for ourselves.”
The attention and support from the Netherlands are not only beneficial for the national squad. Numerous Dutch-Surinamese players are taking steps to reconnect with their roots. UEFA Champions League winner Georginio Wijnaldum, whose parents hail from Suriname, has recently collaborated with a non-profit organization to finance improvements to a local public school. Despite his nearly 100 appearances for the Dutch national team rendering him ineligible for Suriname, he showcased a Natio jersey during the last match while watching from the stands.
Wijnaldum aspires to inspire others—not just footballers—but anyone with resources to invest in Suriname’s future.
“This endeavor holds significance not just for me but for our country,” Wijnaldum told ESPN in Paramaribo. “I contributed to a charitable cause, which is a positive step, but I hope that others with means engage in efforts to secure a better future for our children and citizens.”
“The football team symbolizes a potential vehicle for national advancement.”
Ultimately, this progress will bolster soccer’s development beyond just the Dutch-based players donning the national jersey.
“If Suriname qualifies for the World Cup, the implications will be immense,” affirmed Jean-Pierre Ristra, a marketing professional who also runs a café. “There will be heightened focus on young women and the youth teams, paving the way for football to become a viable career path for many. This could unlock a multitude of opportunities.”
Suriname is set to face Panama in an upcoming match, with a chance to secure another win in Central America, potentially extending their lead at the top of the group with only two matches remaining. However, the challenge will be significant against pre-tournament favorites Panama, who are also vying for a top spot with the same point total but trailing Suriname on goal difference.
Prior to this new qualification cycle within the expanded 48-team World Cup format, Suriname’s closest brush with the prestigious tournament was in 1977 when they topped the Caribbean bracket and advanced to the 1977 Concacaf Championship held in Mexico.
Only the champion of the Concacaf tournament earned a ticket to the 1978 World Cup, and sadly, Suriname finished last, without a single point. Yet, that squad is fondly remembered and revered, with Menzo inviting several veterans from that era to inspire the current team ahead of the Guatemala fixture.
There is a strong hope that this current generation of Dutch-Surinamese players can revive the legacy of Surinamese soccer from the 1970s and 1980s, reestablishing the nation as a competitive force both regionally and beyond.
“I feel like I’m carrying the torch for that legacy,” Menzo expressed. “I understand where Suriname once stood, and I recognize our current position. The efforts to engage players abroad started long before me; it’s a shared journey. We stand at the threshold of achieving something.”
“I conveyed to the former players of 1977: You stood on the edge of a World Cup opportunity, but perhaps it was too daunting at that time. Now, we too are on the brink of qualification. Let’s strive for what you couldn’t attain; we believe we can succeed—but belief must be paired with action.”