Cape verde FIFA World Cup: Cape Verde make history after qualifying for 2026 tournament
A festive atmosphere filled the streets of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on Monday as the small archipelago nation qualified for the World Cup for the first time.
After a 3-0 win over Eswatini, enthusiastic fans exiting the Cape Verde National Stadium were greeted by honking horns and fireworks. With the victory, the Blue Sharks secured a place in the 2026 finals, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
People on the street were dancing to reggae tunes and local funana music.
37-year-old fan Jorge Junior Livramento told AFP near the stadium that it was “an incredible moment.”
“I have no words. I was at the stadium and I supported my team unconditionally,” he said.
Congratulating Cape Verde on their “historic moment,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the achievement would “inspire a new generation of football lovers” across the country.
Cape Verde, located off the coast of Senegal, is the least populous country representing Africa at the World Cup, with just 550,000 inhabitants.
It became the second least populous country to reach the World Cup, after Iceland (just over 350,000) at Russia 2018.
“I shouted a lot during the match and now my voice is sore, but I’m happy,” Praia resident Jose Vieira told AFP after the victory, which he watched live at the stadium.
The celebrations were expected to continue into the night with a concert by local artists such as Jodje and Soraya Ramos at Praia’s municipal stadium.
Blue Sharks coach Pedro ‘Bubista’ Brito told the press that “it’s a huge thing to bring this joy to these people,” adding that “it’s a victory for all the people of Cape Verde.”
Cape Verde finished Group D with 23 points, four more than Cameroon, which holds the African record for World Cup appearances with eight. Cameroon played Angola to a 0-0 draw in Yaoundé.
Cape Verde, an archipelago of 10 islands located in the Atlantic Ocean, gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and first attempted to reach the World Cup in 2002, held in Japan and South Korea.
Coach Bubista said, “This is a special moment in this celebration of the 50th anniversary of our independence.”
Boroloala Strikers training practice
“This is a victory for all the people of Cape Verde and, above all, for those who fought for our independence.” On the island of São Vicente, Doris da Luz, a businessman and entrepreneur, told AFP that she was “very proud.”
“This is a fight we’ve been trying to achieve for a long time, and finally, coach Bubista managed to get us there,” said da Luz, wearing the team’s blue uniform.
The team reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in its debut match in 2013 and again in 2023, and is currently ranked 70th in the world rankings.
“It’s time to celebrate,” 39-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha told reporters, adding that he had “been dreaming of this moment since childhood.”
Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, and Cape Verde have now won their groups and filled six of the nine spots automatically reserved for Africa at the 2026 World Cup.
Fan Jose Jorge Borges, a 60-year-old journalist, told AFP in Praia that it was a very memorable moment for Cape Verdeans.
“The emotions are palpable and difficult to describe,” he said.