Cape Verde, known for its crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches, is turning heads this summer for a very different reason.
The archipelago, a group of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, will make its first appearance at the Soccer World Cup in North America, arriving on the global stage as one of 10 African teams.
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Cape Verde’s fairy-tale qualification coincides with their 50th anniversary of independence from Portugal, and the ‘Blue Sharks’ have the chance to give their fans even more to celebrate by facing off against the best team in the world.
Here’s everything you need to know about Cape Verde in Al Jazeera’s World Cup Minnow Series.
How did Cape Verde qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Cape Verde (also known as Cape Verde in Portuguese) qualified immediately after an excellent performance in the first round of CAF qualification.
They made it through a difficult group alongside Cameroon and Angola, winning eight out of 10 games and clinching their first ticket to a historic World Cup.
They were 100% in their five home games and the clean sheet was crucial to their progress.
On the final day of qualifying, Cape Verde started with a two-point lead over Cameroon, which has reached the World Cup finals eight times, the most of any African nation. However, at the final whistle, Cape Verde finished Group D with 23 points, four ahead of Cameroon, who were ultimately eliminated in the second round.
With a population of around 600,000 and a land area of just 4,000 square kilometers, Cape Verde is the third smallest country to qualify for the World Cup, following Curaçao, which also competed for the first time this year, and Iceland, which competed in 2018.
Has Cape Verde ever played in a major tournament?
yes. Cape Verde has participated in the African Cup of Nations four times, the continent’s featured football event. Their best results were reaching the quarterfinals in their first appearance in 2013 and in their last appearance in 2023.
They came close to qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but were ultimately eliminated in the final group match.
What is Cape Verde’s FIFA ranking?
Cape Verde are ranked 69th, second from the bottom of the 10 African teams participating in this year’s World Cup.
Who will Cape Verde face in the 2026 World Cup?
Cape Verde are in Group H, along with 2010 champions and favorites to win in 2026 Spain, former champions Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, who suffered a shocking defeat to Argentina at the 2022 World Cup. All group stage matches will be played in the United States.
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
Who is Cape Verde’s head coach?
Bubista (full name Pedro Leitao Brito) is a former Cape Verde international who has been in charge of the national team for six and a half years.
He appeared in 21 games for his country in the early 2000s and came into the limelight as captain, before transitioning into coaching two years after retiring. Bubista, who served as assistant manager twice, was appointed Cape Verde’s head coach in early 2020.
Under his guidance, Cape Verde achieved the incredible feat of appearing in back-to-back AFCONs, reaching the knockout stages both times, and qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. This achievement also earned him the honor of 2025 CAF Coach of the Year.
Buvista’s nickname was derived from the Creole name of his birthplace, Boa Vista, which instilled in the team an identity that made them difficult to lose to.
Who are the key players in Cape Verde?
Forward Dairon Libramento was Cape Verde’s top scorer in qualifying with four goals, while Dinny, midfielder Jamiro Monteiro and winger Willy Semedo each scored two goals.
Captain Ryan Mendez, goalkeeper Bosinha and defender Roberto López are other key players who are part of the squad competing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Cape Verde has starters based in multiple countries, including Portugal, the Netherlands and the United States, spreading their national team all over the net.
How is Cape Verde preparing for the World Cup?
Cape Verde played Chile and Finland in a friendly in New Zealand in March as part of the FIFA Series, a biennial tournament hosted mainly by lower-ranked and less well-funded countries.
They lost 4-2 against Chile, but after drawing 1-1 against Finland, they won 4-2 on penalties.
What can we expect from Cape Verde?
Cape Verde may be considered small fry at the World Cup, but it would be a mistake to ignore them. The ‘Blue Sharks’ have built a reputation as potential giant killers, and their impressive run in the African qualifiers only increases their interest.
That spirit is best expressed in Coach Buvista’s words. “We are a small country, but we are only small on the map…We are a small country with a big heart.”
Al Jazeera’s dedicated 2026 FIFA World Cup page allows you to track the match with all the latest news, match developments and live text commentary, and keep up to date with group standings, real-time results and schedule.
