A historic appointment
Dr. Suzanne Huurman has become the first woman to head the medical staff of a national team at a men’s World Cup, a milestone that highlights both the progress made and the distance still to travel.
Curacao, a small Caribbean island, qualified for the tournament unbeaten, finishing the qualifying phase with seven wins and three draws, making it the smallest-ever squad by population and size to reach the finals.
Her appointment follows a lineage of pioneering women, including Dr. Celeste Geertsema, who served as the first female doctor for a World Cup team in 2010, and Dr. Silja Schwarz, who has been a regular team doctor for Germany’s men’s side since 2023.
Huurman points to the sport’s ‘always‑on’ culture as a barrier for women seeking flexible schedules, and she advocates for policies that allow medical staff to balance demanding travel with personal responsibilities.
In 2026 FIFA introduced new regulations that will require at least one female medical staff member and one female coach for every women’s tournament, a rule Huurman believes will accelerate representation across the sport.
Her professional journey has taken her from the Netherlands to Real Madrid, where she contributed to the medical department, and to PSV Eindhoven, experiences she says have broadened her perspective on elite sport.
The opening match featured an all‑female medical unit, and Curacao scored its first-ever World Cup goal against Germany, underscoring the growing collaboration between men’s and women’s medical teams.
Looking ahead, Curacao will face Ecuador and Ivory Coast in the group stage, and Huurman hopes her presence will inspire more women to consider careers in sports medicine.