* The Blue Sharks defied all odds to qualify for their first-ever FIFA World Cup — but what more should the world expect from the Atlantic Ocean archipelago from the west coast of Africa?
* They are the third smallest country by population ever to qualify for a World Cup, behind fellow debutants Curaçao, and Iceland, who reached the finals in 2018
Maravi Express
Cape Verde head into the FIFA World Cup™ 2026 with one of the more impressive stories of being the third smallest country by population ever to qualify for a World Cup, behind fellow debutants Curaçao, and Iceland, who reached the finals in 2018.
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Curaçao were demolished 7-1 by four-time world champions, Germany last night and having defied all odds to qualify for their first-ever FIFA World Cup, the question being asked is “what more should the world expect from the Atlantic Ocean archipelago from the west coast of Africa?”
Cape Verde, who are of the four debutants at the 2026 edition alongside Jordan, Curaçao and Uzbekistan, sealed their place on the final day of African qualifying with a 3-0 win over eSwatini in Praia.
On that day, the country was effectively half-closed for business, with many given time off to watch a match staged at a national stadium that holds just 8,000 spectators.
By global standards it was a modest crowd, but it represented a nation of just over half a million people.
The achievement comes despite a more difficult recent past in continental competition as they failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) Morocco 2025, finishing bottom of their qualifying group.
Yet the broader trajectory under head coach Pedro ‘Bubista’ Brito, appointed in 2020, has been upward. The Blue Sharks have qualified for four of the past six AfCON finals and reached the quarter-finals twice, establishing themselves as a consistent presence on the continental stage.
Pedro Brito
Their FIFA World Cup qualification campaign was built on efficiency rather than spectacle as they scored 16 goals in 10 matches, the lowest tally among the African teams that qualified, but they made each of them count, with three of their seven victories ending 1-0.
They finished top of Group D with 23 points, ahead of Cameroon, Africa’s most experienced World Cup side with eight appearances, as well as Angola.
The squad reflects the country’s global diaspora, with players based across 14 different countries. All 11 starters in their decisive qualifier against eSwatini were foreign-based.
Among the key figures was 24-year-old forward Dailon Rocha Livramento, who finished as their top scorer in qualifying with four goals.
Expectations in the tournament are understandably modest. Their absence from AfCON 2025 has limited competitive match practice since securing qualification in October, with two warm-up fixtures against Iraq and Egypt in early 2026 both ending in defeat.
They thus face a testing Group H, opening against European champions and tournament favourites Spain 18h00, before taking on seasoned World Cup campaigners Uruguay.
They conclude their group stage with a meeting against Saudi Arabia, who are up against Uruguay from 21h00.—Reporting by Olympics.com; editing by Maravi Express
Group stage results
Group A
Mexico 2-0 South Africa
South Korea 2-1 Czechia
Group B
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
Group C
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
Group D
USA 4-1 Paraguay
Australia 2-0 Turkiye
Group E
Côte d’Ivoire 1-0 Ecuador
Germany 7-1 Curacao
Group F
Netherlands 2-2 Japan
Sweden 5-1 Tunisia
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