Summary
- Suzanne Hoerlein from the Caribbean island of Curaçao is making history at the FIFA World Cup 2026, which features 48 teams and thousands of staff members from around the world.
- During the match between Curaçao and Germany, another historic moment occurred when an all-female external medical team was deployed in a men’s World Cup match for the first time.
- Curaçao with a population of around 158,000 had qualified for the World Cup without losing a single match.
Dr. Suzanne Hoerlein from the Caribbean island of Curaçao is making history at the FIFA World Cup 2026, which features 48 teams and thousands of staff members from around the world.
The 36-year-old is the only Chief Medical Officer among all participating teams and only the third female doctor in the 96-year history of the men’s World Cup to hold this role.
Born in Brazil, Hoerlein has previously worked with top football clubs such as Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Go Ahead Eagles. She has also been associated with the Netherlands U-16 team and a women’s handball team.
She says working in a male-dominated field is nothing new for her. Hoerlein is the only woman in Curaçao’s 49-member delegation but she believes that proving one’s ability makes acceptance easier.
During the match between Curaçao and Germany, another historic moment occurred when an all-female external medical team was deployed in a men’s World Cup match for the first time.
Curaçao with a population of around 158,000 had qualified for the World Cup without losing a single match.
Although the team lost 1–7 to Germany in their opening game, a 0–0 draw against Ecuador has kept their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.
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