What to know about Cape Verde at World Cup 2026

Known for its crystal-clear waters and achromatic sandy beaches, Cape Verde is acceptable to bargain the spotlight for precise antithetic reasons this summer.

The archipelago of 10 islands successful the Atlantic Ocean is making its shot World Cup debut successful North America, arriving astatine the planetary showpiece arsenic 1 of 10 African representatives.

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Cape Verde’s fairy-tale qualification coincided with the its 50th day of independency from Portugal, and the ‘Blue Sharks’ person the accidental to springiness their fans adjacent much to observe arsenic they spell toe-to-toe with the champion teams successful the world.

Here’s everything you request to cognize astir Cape Verde successful Al Jazeera’s World Cup minnows series.

Cape Verde’s 600,000 inhabitants were fixed the time disconnected to enactment their squad connected the last time of the CAF qualifiers for the World Cup [File: Cristiano Barbosa/AP]

How did Cape Verde suffice for the 2026 World Cup?

Cape Verde – oregon Cabo Verde arsenic they are known successful Portuguese – qualified straight aft an fantabulous show successful the archetypal circular of CAF qualifying.

They topped a hard group, alongside Cameroon and Angola, winning 8 of their 10 games to punch their archetypal historical summons to a World Cup.

A 100% grounds successful 5 location games, and not conceding a extremity was pivotal to their progress.

On the last time of qualifiers, Cape Verde started 2 points up of Cameroon, whose 8 erstwhile World Cup last appearances are the astir by immoderate African country. But astatine the full-time whistle, Cape Verde finished Group D connected 23 points, 4 up of Cameroon, who yet crashed retired successful the 2nd round.

With astir 600,000 inhabitants and lone 4,000 quadrate kilometres of land, Cape Verde is the third-smallest state to suffice for the World Cup aft Curacao, which is besides making its debut this year, and Iceland, which competed successful 2018.

Has Cape Verde played successful a large tournament?

Yes. Cape Verde person played astatine 4 Africa Cup of Nations, the continent’s showpiece footballing event. Their champion effect was reaching the quarter-finals successful their inaugural run successful 2013 and astatine their past quality successful 2023.

They besides came adjacent to qualifying for the 2022 World Cup successful Qatar, but were yet eliminated successful the past lucifer of the radical phase.

What is Cape Verde’s FIFA ranking?

Cape Verde is ranked 69th, the second-lowest-ranked squad among the 10 African representatives astatine the World Cup this year.

Who volition Cape Verde look astatine the 2026 World Cup?

Cape Verde are successful Group H with Spain, the 2010 champions and frontrunners for the 2026 title, erstwhile champions Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, who handed Argentina a daze decision successful the 2022 World Cup. All their radical matches volition beryllium played successful the US.

• June 15: Spain vs Cape Verde – Atlanta Stadium
• June 21: Uruguay vs Cape Verde – Miami Stadium
• June 26: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia – Houston Stadium

Former NHL subordinate Wayne Gretzky picks Cape Verde successful the gully for the FIFA World Cup [File: Dan Mullan/Pool Photo via AP]

Who is Cape Verde’s caput coach?

Bubista – whose afloat sanction is Pedro Leitao Brito – is simply a erstwhile Cape Verde international, who has been successful complaint of the nationalist squad for six-and-a-half years.

He played 21 times for his state successful the aboriginal 2000s and enjoyed the limelight arsenic skipper earlier transitioning into coaching 2 years aft his retirement. Twice serving arsenic adjunct manager, Bubista was named the Cape Verde caput manager successful aboriginal 2020.

Under his guidance, Cape Verde played astatine back-to-back AFCONs, reaching the knockouts some times, earlier pulling disconnected the unthinkable by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The accomplishment besides earned him the accolade of the CAF Coach of the Year 2025.

Bubista – whose nickname is derived from the Creole sanction of his birthplace, Boa Vista – has instilled an individuality successful the squad that makes them hard to beat.

Bubista played for Cape Verde successful the 1990s and aboriginal 2000s earlier taking implicit arsenic manager successful 2020 (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) (AP)

Who are Cape Verde’s cardinal players?

Forward Dailon Livramento was Cape Verde’s highest scorer during qualification with 4 goals, portion defender Diney, midfielder Jamiro Monteiro, and winger Willy Semedo bagged 2 apiece.

Captain Ryan Mendes, goalkeeper Vozinha and defender Roberto Lopes – besides portion of the squad that fought for 2022 World Cup qualification – are the different cardinal players.

Cape Verde has dispersed the nationalist squad nett wide with starters based successful respective countries, including Portugal, the Netherlands, and the US.

How is Cape Verde preparing for the World Cup?

Cape Verde faced Chile and Finland successful friendlies successful New Zealand successful March, arsenic portion of the FIFA Series, the sponsored biennial tournaments for chiefly lower-ranked and lesser-financed nations.

They mislaid 4-2 to Chile but won 4-2 connected penalties against Finland aft being tied astatine 1-1.

What tin we expect from Cape Verde?

While Cape Verde whitethorn beryllium considered minnows astatine the World Cup, penning them disconnected would beryllium a mistake. The ‘Blue Sharks’ person built a estimation arsenic imaginable giant-killers, and their awesome tally done the African qualifiers lone adds to their intrigue.

The tone tin beryllium champion described successful manager Bubista’s words: “We’re a tiny country, but it’s lone tiny connected the map… a tiny state with a large heart”.

Fans observe aft Cape Verde defeated Eswatini successful qualifying to clinch their World Cup spot [File: Cristiano Barbosa/AP]

You tin travel the enactment connected Al Jazeera’s dedicated FIFA World Cup 2026 page with each the latest news, lucifer build-up and unrecorded substance commentary, and support up to day with radical standings and real-time match results and schedules.