Cabo Verde at the FIFA World Cup 2026

History

The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks Cabo Verde's first-ever appearance at the global tournament. Known as the Blue Sharks, the island nation of approximately 525,000 people is one of the smallest-by-population nations ever to qualify for a World Cup. Prior to 2026, their most prominent international stage was the Africa Cup of Nations, where they debuted in 2013 and reached the quarter-finals in that inaugural AFCON appearance. They also reached the AFCON quarter-finals in 2023, losing to South Africa on penalties after a goalless draw. Qualification for 2026 coincided with Cabo Verde's 50th anniversary of independence from Portugal in 2025.

Qualification

Cabo Verde sealed their historic World Cup qualification on October 13, 2025, with a 3-0 victory over Eswatini. They topped CAF qualifying Group D with 23 points from 10 matches, winning eight games and finishing four points ahead of Cameroon, a nation with eight previous World Cup appearances. Cabo Verde kept a perfect home record throughout, winning all five home matches without conceding a single goal. Top scorer in the campaign was Dailon Livramento with four goals. The achievement is all the more remarkable given that Cabo Verde defeated a Cameroon side that had been a regular World Cup participant.

Preparation

Cabo Verde travelled to New Zealand in March 2026 for a preparation camp, playing two friendlies. They lost 4-2 to Chile before drawing 1-1 with Finland, with Finland winning the subsequent penalty shootout 4-2. Coach Bubista (Pedro Brito), who has led the national team since early 2020 and was named CAF Coach of the Year 2025, announced his squad on May 19, 2026. Captain Ryan Mendes and goalkeeper Vozinha are among the key figures named. After a domestic tour of four islands (São Vicente, Fogo, Sal and Santiago) on May 20-23 and a medal of merit ceremony hosted by President José Maria Neves on May 23, the squad gathered in Portugal for a pre-World Cup training camp; latecomers Carlos Dos Santos, Kevin Pina and Gilson Benchimol joined the second training session on May 26. Two warm-up friendlies were scheduled: against Serbia on May 31 at the Estádio do Restelo in Lisbon, then a final friendly against Bermuda on June 6 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in Hartford, Connecticut. In the first of these, Cabo Verde produced a convincing 3-0 win over Serbia, with goals from Kevin Pina (11'), Laros Duarte (59') and Gilson Benchimol (63'). After remaining in Portugal until June 2, the squad flew to the United States, landing in Boston after an eight-hour flight to a festive welcome from the local Cape Verdean diaspora, and held their first training session on US soil on June 3. In their final warm-up they beat Bermuda 3-0 on June 6 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut, with goals from Willy Semedo (33'), Garry Rodrigues (49') and Nuno da Costa (90+1'), completing an unbeaten preparation alongside the 3-0 win over Serbia. Defender Sidny Cabral stayed behind to formalise a move from Benfica to Trabzonspor (five-year deal, 7 million euros in three instalments, confirmed June 6) before rejoining the squad. The delegation arrived in Tampa on Monday June 8 to begin its World Cup base-camp stint at the Tampa Bay Rowdies' Waters Sportsplex (two natural-grass fields and one FIFA-approved artificial-turf pitch), one of 25 non-host base camps across North America, and trained twice that day. On June 10 they held their first formal session in Florida with the entire called-up group available; Laros Duarte said he felt confident and in good physical condition and goalkeeper Márcio Rosa praised the squad's focus. A further session followed on June 11. As of June 12, defender Sidny Cabral described the camp atmosphere as 'calm, united and determined' with no injury concerns reported. Cabo Verde opened Group H against Spain on June 15 in Atlanta, achieving a historic 0-0 draw in their World Cup debut; 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha made seven saves to earn man of the match and became a global sensation overnight, his Instagram following growing from 45,000 before the match to 14 million by June 20. Sofascore named Vozinha (9.7/10) and Diney Borges (8.5/10) in their World Cup Team of the Week for matchday 1. The squad returned to their Tampa base on June 17, with starters undergoing recovery work and all 26 players available for training. As of June 19, assistant coach Filipe Neto confirmed the team is adjusting sessions to match Sunday's conditions in Miami. On June 21, Cape Verde played Uruguay at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and drew 2-2 in another remarkable performance. Kevin Pina scored the first World Cup goal in Cape Verde's history with an outrageous 30-yard free kick in the 21st minute; he was named man of the match. Uruguay came back through Maxi Araújo (44') and Agustín Canobbio (45+6') to lead 2-1 at half-time. Substitute Hélio Varela equalised in the 61st minute, capitalising on a goalkeeping error by veteran Uruguayan keeper Fernando Muslera. On June 26 Cape Verde drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia at NRG Stadium in Houston. Vozinha made three further key saves; midfielder Deroy Duarte was named FIFA Man of the Match. Spain's simultaneous 1-0 win over Uruguay confirmed Cape Verde's progression: they finished second in Group H with 3 points from three draws. Cape Verde became the smallest nation by population ever to reach a FIFA World Cup knockout stage. Telmo Arcanjo missed the Saudi Arabia game with injury (hamstring). On June 27, news broke that New Zealand police are investigating captain Ryan Mendes over an alleged rape during the March 2026 tour; no charges filed. Cape Verde faced defending champions Argentina at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on July 3 in the Round of 32. Deroy Duarte equalised Lionel Messi's 29th-minute opener with a 59th-minute goal to make it 1-1 after 90 minutes, sending the match to extra time. Argentina retook the lead through Lisandro Martínez (92'), Sidny Lopes Cabral levelled again for Cape Verde (103'), before a Cristian Romero header deflected in off Diney Borges for an own goal (111') sealed a 3-2 Argentina win after extra time. Goalkeeper Vozinha made ten saves, including five off Messi. Cape Verde's World Cup run ended in the Round of 32, but as the smallest nation by population ever to reach a World Cup knockout stage, having pushed the reigning champions to extra time. Coach Bubista: 'We're ever so proud of our players because they represented us with dignity at this World Cup. Above all, we showed our identity. I don't think any other team could have scored two goals against Argentina.' The squad returned home on July 5, landing at Nelson Mandela Praia International Airport to a mass public celebration that coincided with Cape Verde's Independence Day; players were paraded on an open-top truck to Quebra Canela beach in Praia in the country's largest football-related public gathering to date.

Squad

Recent results

• 2023-11-16 — CPV 0-0 ANG (qualification)
• 2023-11-21 — SWZ 0-2 CPV (qualification)
• 2024-01-10 — TUN 2-0 CPV (friendly)
• 2024-06-08 — CMR 4-1 CPV (qualification)
• 2024-06-11 — CPV 1-0 LBY (qualification)
• 2025-03-20 — CPV 1-0 MRI (qualification)
• 2025-03-25 — ANG 1-2 CPV (qualification)
• 2025-05-29 — MAS 1-1 CPV (friendly)
• 2025-06-03 — MAS 0-3 CPV (friendly)
• 2025-06-08 — GEO 1-1 CPV (friendly)
• 2025-09-04 — MRI 0-2 CPV (qualification)
• 2025-09-09 — CPV 1-0 CMR (qualification)
• 2025-10-08 — LBY 3-3 CPV (qualification)
• 2025-10-13 — CPV 3-0 SWZ (qualification)
• 2026-06-15 — ESP 0-0 CPV (group)
• 2026-06-21 — URU 2-2 CPV (group)
• 2026-06-26 — CPV 0-0 KSA (group)
• 2026-07-03 — ARG 3-2 CPV (round_of_32)