Cape Verde advances to World Cup round of 32, to face Argentina

By Sanjay Menon — 27 June 2026 — 3 min read

Cape Verde’s Historic Qualification

Cape Verde has secured a spot in the World Cup 2026 round of 32, marking a significant achievement for the island nation. Their qualification was confirmed after a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia. This result sets up an encounter with defending champions Argentina in Miami.

The team, often referred to as the Blue Sharks, entered the tournament with low expectations, with some bookmakers giving them a one per cent chance of progressing past the group stage. Despite these odds, their disciplined performances, which included three draws, allowed them to advance.

In Group H, Spain topped the group with seven points following their 1-0 victory over Uruguay. Cape Verde finished second, while Uruguay and Saudi Arabia were eliminated, both having accumulated two points.

Journey to the Knockout Stage

Cape Verde‘s journey in the tournament has been notable. They achieved a goalless draw with Spain and a 2-2 result against Uruguay, showcasing a resilient spirit. The draw against Saudi Arabia, although lacking in offensive quality, was sufficient for their progression.

Following the final whistle of their match against Saudi Arabia, players and staff celebrated their qualification, which was confirmed by Spain‘s win over Uruguay. Supporters in Houston Stadium joined in the celebrations, banging drums and cheering.

Deroy Duarte, named man-of-the-match against Saudi Arabia, expressed his excitement, stating that playing in a World Cup had been a lifelong dream. He acknowledged the challenge of facing Argentina but maintained a belief that anything is possible.

Dailon Livramento of Cape Verde mentioned the team’s intent to play their own style against Saudi Arabia. He also highlighted the importance of converting chances in their upcoming match against Argentina.

The match against Saudi Arabia saw Cape Verde create more scoring opportunities but struggle with composure in the final third. One clear chance included a miss by Laros Duarte when he was one-on-one with goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais.

Saudi Arabia‘s coach, Georgios Donis, attributed his team’s struggles to an inability to maintain possession and create offensive threats. His team exited the tournament having scored only one goal across their three matches.

Key Players and Team Spirit

The Cape Verde squad features players with diverse backgrounds, including 14 of the 26 players born outside the islands. Six players were raised in Rotterdam, and centre-back Roberto Lopes, known as Pico, was recruited through LinkedIn in 2019 after representing the Republic of Ireland at youth level.

Goalkeeper Vozinha, at 40 years old, has been a key figure in Cape Verde‘s campaign. He made seven saves against Spain to secure a goalless draw and three more against Saudi Arabia. His mother was present in the stands for the Saudi Arabia match, having missed an earlier game due to visa issues.

Dailon Livramento, who plays club football in Portugal, scored the winning goal against Cameroon that secured Cape Verde‘s place in the World Cup. He was also a strong performer against Saudi Arabia.

The team’s success is also attributed to coach Bubista, who took charge in January 2020. He was named African Coach of the Year in 2025. Defender Sidny Lopes Cabral emphasized the team’s unity and consistent approach to training and playing.

Bubista expressed his long-held belief that Cape Verde would eventually reach such a stage in international football, stating that football belongs to everyone and that they represent their country and Africa.

The team’s discipline was evident in their match against Spain, where they committed only one foul, a low number for a World Cup match since records began in 1966. This highlights the structured approach under Bubista.

The Cape Verde players remained on the pitch after the match against Saudi Arabia, taking photographs and celebrating with family members, reflecting the magnitude of their achievement for a nation of approximately 530,000 people.

Source: thehindu.com