Dr. Suzanne Huurman's Historic Role at the 2026 World Cup
Dr. Suzanne Huurman is poised to become a significant figure at the 2026 Men's World Cup, serving as the head of medical staff for Curacao's national team. Her appointment marks her as only the third woman in the tournament's 96-year history to hold such a position. Curacao, a small Caribbean island nation, will be the smallest team by population and size ever to participate in the World Cup.
Dr. Huurman joins a select group of female medical professionals who have broken barriers in men's international football. Dr. Celeste Geertsema was the first, working with New Zealand at the 2010 South Africa World Cup, followed by Dr. Silja Schwarz, who joined Germany's men's team in 2023.
"I didn't realise in the beginning because it's so normal to be the only, or one of the few, women in the room. But I hope to see more women soon because there are a lot more women out there who are capable." - Dr. Suzanne Huurman
Despite the rarity of her position, Dr. Huurman views it with a pragmatic perspective, acknowledging the need for greater female representation in the sport. Her extensive experience includes working with prominent clubs like Real Madrid, Go Ahead Eagles, and PSV Eindhoven, as well as serving as medical lead for the Netherlands Under-16 boys and doctor for the Dutch women's handball team.
Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Football Medicine
Working in a predominantly male environment presents its challenges, but Dr. Huurman emphasizes that competence and quality ultimately lead to acceptance. She notes that gaining initial entry can be difficult, with skepticism often encountered regarding women's roles in men's professional football.
Dr. Huurman's experience with Curacao, where she is the sole woman among a 49-person squad and staff, highlights the stark gender imbalance still present in many football federations. Her medical studies in the Netherlands initially showed a female-heavy cohort (70-75% women), but this trend reversed dramatically in sports medicine, where only 20-30% were women.
One significant barrier she identifies for women in football medicine is the demanding, 'always-on' culture of elite sports. The extensive travel and unpredictable schedules can conflict with personal life, especially for those with families or during periods like pregnancy. The expectation of a single, permanent doctor for a team makes it challenging to implement flexible working arrangements that might better accommodate female professionals.
Promoting Change and Future Outlook
Recognizing the need for change, FIFA has introduced new regulations for women's tournaments in 2026, mandating at least one female medical staff member and one female coach. Notably, a recent match between Curacao and Germany featured an unprecedented all-female medical team, signaling a positive step forward.
Dr. Huurman supports these initiatives and suggests that football could further improve by adopting agile-working models, such as rotating doctors, which are already in practice in some countries like Sweden. This approach could offer greater flexibility and make the profession more accessible to women.
For aspiring female professionals, Dr. Huurman's message is clear: prove your quality and professionalism. Despite hearing "you cannot do this because you're a woman" numerous times, she believes that dedication and capability will ultimately prevail.
Curacao, known as the Blue Wave, recently made history by scoring its first-ever World Cup goal against Germany. Despite a 7-1 defeat, the team remains optimistic for their upcoming games against Ecuador and Ivory Coast, with Dr. Huurman and the squad focused on their performance.
Source: Curacao's trailblazer doctor on football's big stage