Published on 6/23/2026
The Cape Verde team continued its surprises in the 2026 World Cup, after it became close to booking a ticket to the knockout rounds, in an unexpected achievement for a team participating in the tournament amid weak nominations before the start of the competitions in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The Cape Verde team, a country with a population of about 500,000 people, is now in control of its fate before the final round of the group stage, as a victory over Saudi Arabia, next Friday, is enough to guarantee qualification to the round of 32, while a draw may also be enough to secure a pass, according to the results of the rest of the matches.
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Predictions before the start of the tournament had placed the team among the least fortunate teams, as the percentage of its nomination to advance to the group stage did not exceed about 12%, according to some betting offices, before it reversed the data and became one of the most prominent competitors to qualify.
Defender Roberto Lopez said: “It’s in our hands. We have to snatch the win.”
This comes after two valuable draws against Spain in the first round, then against Uruguay with a score of (2-2), which gave the team an important balance point despite its continuous search for the first victory in its history in the tournament, but it remained in a good position to compete.
Spain leads Group H with four points, followed by Uruguay and Cape Verde with two points each, while Saudi Arabia ranks last with one point.
The first and second placed teams qualify directly to the round of 32, in addition to the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups.
If it wins over Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde will raise its score to five points, which guarantees it at least second place in the group, while a draw may be enough for it to reach the next round in a scenario that depends on the results of the competitors, led by Spain.
“We are focusing on each match individually,” substitute goalkeeper CJ dos Santos said. “This is just a new stop on our way.”
The team’s story reflects a remarkable social aspect, as more than half of its players were born outside the country, as some of them grew up in other countries before representing the team. Among them is Kevin Pena, who scored a goal against Uruguay, and who spent part of his childhood in the American state of Massachusetts, which has one of the largest communities coming from Cape Verde.
“We are a country of immigrants, and we want every child and young person to feel proud to represent their country,” said Coach Bobista. “We hope that our success will inspire future generations to wear a Cape Verde jersey.”
