Giants and upsets

When watching the 2026 World Cup, many people will be keeping an eye on the tournament’s strongest teams and the stories they promise to write.

Whether it’s Brazil chasing that long-awaited sixth title, Argentina trying to keep Lionel Messi’s historic legacy alive, France looking to live up to their status as favourites, Portugal dreaming of crowning Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary career, England trying to win a second World Cup 60 years after their first, or the Netherlands finally hoping to lift a trophy that has eluded them so many times… all these stories are, without a doubt, fascinating and deserve attention.

But they are not necessarily more exciting than the stories that may emerge from far less likely teams.

One of them is that of Cape Verde.

Cape Verde takes centre stage

The small nation on the west coast of Africa had never competed in a World Cup. A former Portuguese colony, the archipelago only gained its independence in 1975, and its first official football match came just three years later. In 1982, the Cape Verdean Football Federation (FCF) was founded, though it did not join FIFA until four years later.

The first time Cape Verde faced a team from outside Africa was in 2002 – the very year that another former Portuguese colony, Brazil, won its fifth World Cup title.

In other words, the country’s history with top-level football is still recent, just like its own journey as an independent nation.

Cape Verde spent around five centuries under colonial rule and only gained independence just over 50 years ago. And it was precisely in the year it celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its independence that it qualified for the World Cup.

This achievement cannot be underestimated. For such a small country, with limited resources and without the same investment as the major footballing powers, Cape Verde’s rise is simply extraordinary.

Growth in Africa

In their first appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) in 2013, the “Blue Sharks” reached the quarter-finals. Along the way, they beat Angola, secured draws against traditional continental powerhouses such as Morocco and South Africa, and put up a tough fight against Ghana, though they were eventually knocked out by the “Black Stars”.

A decade later, in 2023, they repeated the feat – once again reaching the quarter-finals, this time with even greater impact. They beat Ghana, drew with Egypt and defeated Mozambique and Mauritania, before falling at the same stage once more.

Last October came their most significant achievement: qualification for the World Cup. Cape Verde not only progressed but topped an extremely tough group, featuring heavyweight opponents such as Cameroon – the African team with the most World Cup appearances – racking up eight wins from ten matches.

After securing their place in the capital, Praia, the experienced manager Bubista summed up the team’s spirit well: “Unity among people with different mindsets and ways of life can only be achieved through respect for each player’s individuality.” (The Guardian)

Bubista and a squad of many profiles

A former Cape Verde international, Bubista – born Pedro Leitão Brito – heads into the World Cup with a squad that is as diverse as it is intriguing among the 26 players called up.

There are more experienced names, such as Garry Rodrigues; high-impact attacking prospects, such as Dailon Livramento; technical forwards like Willy Semedo; and hard-working midfielders, such as Deroy Duarte… a long, varied list full of different profiles.

Some names, however, stand out even more.

Such is the case of 36-year-old winger Ryan Mendes, captain and all-time leading goalscorer for Cape Verde. He leads the Blue Sharks towards their first World Cup, 16 years after their debut. With 96 caps for the national team, he could still become the first player to reach the 100-cap milestone during the tournament.

Another veteran is 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha. He almost retired from the national team after the painful penalty shootout defeat to South Africa at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, but was persuaded to continue by his teammates. Today, he is one of the most respected leaders in the squad.

At the other end of the spectrum, there are players in their prime, such as 29-year-old midfielder Kevin Pina, whose standout performances helped Russia’s Krasnodar win their first domestic title last year.

And there are also rising stars, such as 25-year-old defender Logan Costa. A defender at Villarreal, he arrives at the Cup despite not having played this season, after suffering a serious ACL injury last year, but remains a key figure for the national team’s future.

This mix of experience, backgrounds and profiles is one of the hallmarks of the Cape Verde squad – and it is precisely this that Bubista, voted CAF Coach of the Year last year, values and highlights so highly.

Identity and unity on the pitch

Speaking of diversity, the Cape Verdean national team also stands out for the origins of its players: the 26 players called up were born in 13 different cities, spread across six countries and three continents.

This largely reflects Cape Verde’s vast diaspora – one of the largest in the world in proportion to the population. It is estimated that there are now almost twice as many Cape Verdeans living abroad as there are in the archipelago itself.

The largest community is in the United States, with around 500,000 people, who will certainly seize the chance to see their small nation take on some of the world’s footballing giants.

Although the United States is home to the largest part of the diaspora, the Netherlands also plays an important role. Six players in the squad were born in Rotterdam, one of the main hubs of this community. The city, nicknamed by Cape Verdeans as the “11th island”, has been home to a large emigrant population since the 1950s, when many began arriving to work on local ships during the struggle for independence from Portugal.

It is from this global network that curious stories also emerge, such as that of 33-year-old defender Pico, who was born in Ireland. He received an invitation to play for Cape Verde due to his family ties to the country, but initially ignored the message on LinkedIn, believing it to be spam. It was only later, upon receiving the message again in English, that he translated it and replied promptly to accept the call-up.

Speaking of language, this is one of the few areas where Bubista allows no variation: he expects the national team players to speak Cape Verdean Creole at all times, reinforcing national pride and the country’s roots. In his own words: “Sometimes the lads try to speak other languages amongst themselves, but I don’t allow it, to keep our Cape Verdean identity intact.” (Financial Times)

Football as a national symbol

Having a common language helps to bring the group closer together – and also connects them more directly with the local population. The national team itself, in this sense, acts as a symbol of national unity. As President José Maria Neves said: “We have democracy, we have pluralism, but there is often fragmentation. The national team unites us. It unites women, men, young people and children. For a small country like ours, that is huge.” (GE)

This unifying role takes on even greater importance in a country comprising an archipelago of ten islands, naturally more fragmented by its very geography. And it comes at a delicate time for the economy, which for a long time relied heavily on tourism for growth. With the pandemic in 2020, visitor numbers fell dramatically, and recovery has been gradual ever since. In this context, qualification for the World Cup emerges as an important moment of national unity and optimism, alongside the announcement that Cape Verde will be the African Capital of Culture in 2028.

Cape Verde in the Portuguese-speaking world

Bubista’s decision to prioritise the use of Creole within the squad is directly linked to this effort to strengthen national pride. Nevertheless, Portuguese remains the country’s official language, widely used in the media, education and public services.

Among the nine Portuguese-speaking countries in the world, Cape Verde will be the fourth to compete in a World Cup. Brazil leads the way, having featured in all 22 editions and won five titles. Portugal follows closely behind, with eight appearances and a third-place finish in 1966. Angola has also featured in the tournament, in 2006, when it was eliminated in the group stage.

The other Portuguese-speaking countries that have not yet managed to reach the World Cup are Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, and East Timor.

A tough group for their debut

There is no denying that Cape Verde’s path will be a tough one.

The country, the third smallest ever to qualify for a World Cup – behind only Curaçao, also in this edition, and Iceland in 2018 – and one of the tournament’s four debutants (alongside Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan), enters the competition ranked 69th in the FIFA rankings and has been drawn in one of the most challenging groups of the tournament.

Their opening match could well be their biggest challenge: a clash against Spain on 15 June. Currently second in the FIFA rankings and Euro 2024 champions, the Spanish national team is among the hot favourites for the title and boasts several Ballon d’Or nominees, such as Pedri, Fabián Ruiz and Lamine Yamal, as well as Rodri, the 2024 winner. The team also has the 2010 World Cup title to its name.

Then, on the 21st, they face Uruguay, two-time world champions. The South Americans, currently 16th in the FIFA rankings, also boast players nominated for the Ballon d’Or, such as Darwin Núñez and Federico Valverde.

The most winnable fixture, at least on paper, comes on the 26th, against Saudi Arabia, currently 60th in the FIFA rankings – just seven places above Cape Verde.

The strength of the “giant-killers”

Many expect Cape Verde to have little chance of progressing from the group stage, but underestimating this team has proven to be a mistake in the past.

Increasingly seen as “giant-killers”, the Cape Verdeans have already shown they know how to spring a surprise. In 2015, they beat Portugal 2–0 in a historic friendly, just one year before the Portuguese won the European Championship. More recently, on the eve of the tournament, they beat Serbia 3–0, a team accustomed to competing in World Cups.

Ultimately, the simple fact that Cape Verde have qualified for this World Cup, beating African powerhouses such as Cameroon and Nigeria, speaks volumes about the scale of what this team represents.

As striker Willy Semedo says: “We want to go as far as possible. It is absolutely a realistic goal to reach the knockout stages. We have shown many times that we have the quality to compete against good teams, playing good football. We’re not just going there on holiday. We’re going to the World Cup to do something special for our nation, to make them proud of us and to qualify for the knockout stages for sure.” (FIFA)

A moment that is already making history

It will undoubtedly be a difficult task for the Blue Sharks. But this squad is no stranger to fighting against the odds, both on and off the pitch. A small but resilient team, with players scattered across the globe, Cape Verde arrives at the 2026 World Cup not just to savour the moment, but to try to go as far as possible and make its mark on history.

On a personal level, coach Bubista knows all too well what it means to overcome obstacles. Raised by his mother on the island of Boa Vista, alongside his nine siblings, he grew up in humble circumstances – his father worked part-time as a lift operator and as a shepherd the rest of the time. On the island, there was only one television, which he used to watch football whenever he could. When that wasn’t possible, he improvised: playing in the street with balls made from socks.

Despite the difficulties, he managed to turn these circumstances into fuel for his dream of becoming a professional footballer. He played for clubs in Spain, Portugal and Angola, and also represented the Cape Verde national team for over a decade.

He has been in charge of the team for over six years and is now preparing to take the squad to the biggest stage in world football.

His career is, in itself, a testament to what football can offer: the idea that no barrier is too great and that the improbable can also happen.

As he himself said: “We are a small country and we serve as an example: no matter the size of the country, it is possible to achieve something as great as being in a World Cup.” (FIFA)

And now?

Now, almost 150 years after the abolition of slavery in Cape Verde and just over 50 years after independence, the country is making its World Cup debut for the first time, ready to show the world its grit, talent and determination.

How far can this story go?

Will Cape Verde once again take on the impossible?

We’ll find out soon.