Published on 6/16/2026
Cape Verde’s historic draw against Spain at the opening of the 2026 World Cup sparked a massive wave of celebrations across the country, opening the door to inspiring human stories that embody the magnitude of this exceptional achievement by a promising team that succeeded in confronting one of the giants of world football.”
One of the most interesting stories is that told by Catalan carpenter Dani Cabanis, who has lived in Cape Verde for more than twenty years. He revealed in radio statements that he is currently working on preparing the kitchen for the home of national team coach Pedro Leitao, and that he joked with him before the match, saying that he would take care of the kitchen for free if the national team was able to win against Spain.
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Although the victory was not achieved, the draw against the European champion was considered an achievement beyond all expectations, especially after the heroic performance presented by the Cape Verdean players against a team that was strongly favored to achieve victory.
Cabanis confirmed that the country experienced an exceptional atmosphere after the end of the match, noting that the streets were filled with fans who came out to celebrate the historic result. He said that everyone, including families, friends and fans, participated in this joy, which he described as an unforgettable moment.
He added that this achievement gives the team a great morale boost in the rest of its World Cup journey, stressing that the players will enter their next matches with greater confidence after proving their ability to compete against the top teams.
The inspiring stories did not stop at the historic result, as Cabanis recalled his memories with goalkeeper Fusenha, the undisputed star of the match, who played a decisive role in keeping a clean sheet against the Spanish attack.
The Catalan carpenter revealed that, in previous years, Fusenha had asked him for help in buying goalkeeping gloves due to the difficulty of finding them in Cape Verde, before he became today one of the most prominent stars of the national team and one of the heroes of the first World Cup participation in his country’s history.
Between Fosinha’s decisive saves, the crowd’s celebrations in the streets, and the funny promises that preceded the match, the Cape Verdean national team continues to write one of the most beautiful stories of the 2026 World Cup, proving that football is not always measured by the size of the names or the value of the stars, but rather by faith, ambition, and the ability to create surprises.
