You’ve probably seen the postcard: crystal blue water, planes skimming over Maho Beach, and tourists with overpriced cocktails. But if you look past the resorts at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex, there is something much more intense happening. The Sint Maarten national football team isn't just a collection of part-timers anymore. They’ve spent decades being the team everyone expected to beat by five goals. Now? They’re winning matches that are making the rest of CONCACAF actually sit up and pay attention.
Honestly, it’s a weird setup if you aren't familiar with Caribbean geography. The island is split in two. You have Saint Martin (the French side) and Sint Maarten (the Dutch side). They both have their own "national" teams. Both are members of CONCACAF, but here’s the kicker: neither is a full member of FIFA.
Because Sint Maarten is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, they don't get to play in World Cup qualifiers. It’s a bummer for the players, sure. But it has forced the Sint Maarten national football team to treat the CONCACAF Nations League like it’s their own personal World Cup. And lately, they’ve been playing like it.
The Rise from the Bottom of League C
A few years ago, Sint Maarten was basically a punching bag. In 2018, they went to Haiti and lost 13–0. It was brutal. It was the kind of result that makes people wonder why a team even bothers showing up. But something shifted around 2022.
Piet de Jong, the current head coach, has managed to cobble together a squad that actually travels well. They aren't just relying on local talent from the Philipsburg leagues anymore. They are tapping into the Dutch connection. You’ve got guys playing in the lower tiers of the Netherlands—Derde Divisie or Vierde Divisie—who are flying back to represent the island.
The turning point was arguably that wild 8–2 win against the Turks and Caicos Islands in June 2022. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. It showed they had found a way to score, and score often. Gerwin Lake, the man who basically carries the scoring load for this team, has been a revelation. With 18 goals in just 24 appearances, his strike rate is genuinely elite for this level of international football.
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Recent Form and the 2025–2026 CONCACAF Push
If you look at the results from late 2025, the Sint Maarten national football team is showing a level of consistency we’ve never seen from them. On November 15, 2025, they went into Dominica and snatched a 3–2 win. Just a few days before that, they held Saint Kitts and Nevis to a 0–0 draw. These aren't blowout losses anymore. They are gritty, tactical performances.
Current key players making an impact:
- Gerwin Lake: Still the main threat. If he’s on the pitch, Sint Maarten has a chance.
- Chovanie Amatkarijo: He’s been huge. Playing for GAIS in Sweden, he brings a level of professional polish that helps the younger guys stay calm.
- Kay Gerritsen: The captain. He’s the engine room in the midfield.
- Ilounga Pata: A defender with European experience (currently at CD Mafra) who has stabilized a backline that used to leak goals like a sieve.
Why They Aren't in FIFA (And Why It Matters)
People always ask why Sint Maarten can't just join FIFA like Curaçao or Aruba. It’s complicated. FIFA changed their rules years ago to stop "non-sovereign" territories from joining. Since Sint Maarten is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, they are stuck in a sort of international limbo.
This means no World Cup. No FIFA ranking.
But it’s not all bad news. Being a CONCACAF-only member allows them to focus entirely on the Gold Cup and the Nations League. It creates a very specific type of "us against the world" mentality. They know the Nations League is their only path to glory. In the 2024–25 season, they even managed a 1–0 win over Aruba, proving they can hang with the FIFA-affiliated neighbors.
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The Rivalry That Nobody Talks About
The most intense game for the Sint Maarten national football team isn't against some regional giant like Mexico or the US. It’s against the other half of the island: Saint Martin.
The "Border Trophy" matches are spicy. Imagine playing a national derby against people who live ten minutes away but technically live in a different country. The first-ever international for Sint Maarten was against Saint Martin back in 1988 (a 3–1 loss). Since then, every meeting is about bragging rights on an island that is only 37 square miles.
The French side usually has a slight edge because they can tap into the French football system, but the Dutch side's recent tactical discipline under De Jong has leveled the playing field. It’s basically a high-stakes backyard brawl with better kits.
What's Next for the Team?
So, where does the Sint Maarten national football team go from here? 2026 is a massive year for the region because the World Cup is being hosted in North America. Even though Sint Maarten can't qualify, the "CONCACAF Series" and the upcoming Nations League cycles are going to be more visible than ever.
The goal is clear: League A.
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Getting promoted to the top tier of the Nations League would mean playing against the likes of Jamaica, Costa Rica, or Canada. For a team that was losing by double digits six years ago, that would be a miraculous ascent. They need to find a way to tighten up the defense—they still concede too many goals in transition—but the attacking trio of Lake, Amatkarijo, and Hughes is genuinely fun to watch.
If you’re looking for a "Cinderella story" in Caribbean sports that isn't just about track and field, this is it. They are small, they are underfunded, and they aren't even "real" in the eyes of FIFA. But on the pitch, they’re becoming a problem for everyone else.
Practical steps to follow the team's progress:
- Watch the Nations League schedule: Most of their competitive matches happen in September, October, and November.
- Check the Eredivisie/Eerste Divisie feeds: Many of the national team's dual-national players are based in the Netherlands; keeping an eye on players like Ilounga Pata or T-Shawn Illidge gives you a preview of the national team's future.
- Support local: If you’re ever on the island, head to the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex in Philipsburg. The atmosphere for a home match is something special that you won't find at a resort.
The era of Sint Maarten being an easy three points is over. They’ve got the talent, they’ve got the Dutch tactical influence, and most importantly, they’ve finally got the belief.