If you were asked to predict any South American nation to reach the World Cup, Suriname would be at the very bottom of the list.
From a continent of football giants – Brazil, Argentina, even Uruguay with all their pedigree on the big stage – getting to the World Cup for this country of 600,000 would be a frankly ridiculous feat.
But Suriname are on the cusp of a miracle of their own making.
They would be FIFA’s lowest ranked team to ever qualify for the World Cup, currently down in 126th spot.
For context, the previous record-holders are North Korea back in 2010 when they were ranked 110th. Suriname only became a fully independent nation 50 years ago when they broke away from Dutch rule.
Only Iceland would have a smaller population than Suriname of any side to qualify for a World Cup.
Suriname are a tiny nation but are on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup
Players of Sport Vereniging Robinhood, a club in Paramaribo, train and football infrastructure in the country is far worse than plenty of their rivals
And the recent success marks an extraordinary reversal in fortunes, with Suriname ranked 191 out of 209 teams just a decade ago.
Despite the size of the nation, they do in fact have pedigree on the global stage in terms of providing some incredible players of Surinamese descent over the years.
Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink were all household names to fall into this category.
And of the current crop of Netherlands stars, Georginio Wijnaldum, Xavi Simons, Ryan Gravenberch, Donyell Malen and Denzel Dumfries all have ties to the country.
The recent success has at least in part come down to more players plying their trade in Europe who qualify for Suriname being picked rather than those at clubs in their homeland.
There was resistance at first from supporters due to national pride but positive results have shifted the public opinion.
So, what do Suriname need to do to get over the line?
They are top of Group A in CONCACAF qualifying ahead of Panama, Guatemala and El Salvador.
Suriname are currently top of their qualifying group with two matches still to play
Their remaining two games are against Guatemala and El Salvador and only three points separates top from bottom, meaning it could still all change.
Ex-Reading director of football Brian Tevreden has been the mastermind behind the recent success.
He became general manager four years ago and told Sky Sports: ‘Everywhere you go people are talking about it. You feel the excitement, the pressure, the tension in the air.
‘Tickets for the El Salvador game sold out in 30 minutes. Imagine if we qualified for a World Cup? That would be crazy.
‘The country would shut down for a whole month. But it is an exciting time for the country. Everything is falling into place.’
Suriname’s FA changed regulations to introduce ‘Sport passports’ and allow players with familial links to the country to play for them.
He went on: ‘Players did not want to come because they had heard the stories. People told me, ‘Brian, you’re going to screw your name up.’ But I had a vision.
Manager Stanley Menzo could be about to mastermind a footballing miracle
‘We had to make a change in mentality and in professionalism. The hotel needs to be good, the food needs to be good.
‘We have a database with a lot of players. I have a whole recruitment team and we are working with a data company too.
‘We did a lot of presentations in Holland. It is not just the player. You have to convince the manager, the wife, other people.
‘They started believing in it. We brought in two or three younger players and they started telling the others.
‘One player told me that if he had known how good it was he would have come years ago. That was a good feeling.
Striker Sheraldo Becker (right) is the most high profile name in the current squad
‘At first, managers were telling players they could not play for us. Now, managers call me about players.’
Among the more recognisable players on the team are ex-Huddersfield man Radinio Balker and for Osasuna striker Sheraldo Becker.
There’s still plenty of work to do but a phenomenal achievement is within sight.
Suriname host Guatemala tonight and could seal qualification to the World Cup if other results go their way.
It would be the ultimate underdog story if they can go all the way.
