Cape Verde: How Blue Sharks Became Second-Smallest Nation Ever to Reach FIFA World Cup

Cape Verde became the second-smallest nation to reach the World Cup after a convincing 3-0 victory over Eswatini in Praia sealed their qualification for the 2026 finals. 

The win capped a historic campaign for the Blue Sharks, who topped Group D ahead of African giants Cameroon to secure their first-ever appearance on football’s biggest stage.

Dailon Livramento opened the scoring early in the second half, pouncing on a loose ball inside the box to send the packed National Stadium into raptures. 

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Moments later, Willy Semedo doubled the lead with a fine volley, before veteran defender Stopira added a third in stoppage time to confirm the result and trigger scenes of jubilation across the Atlantic archipelago.

The result means the island nation, with a population of just under 525,000, has become only the second-smallest country in history to qualify for a World Cup—behind Iceland, who featured in 2018. Cape Verde’s President, José Maria Neves, was among the 15,000 fans in attendance as supporters celebrated a dream decades in the making.

The Blue Sharks’ qualification journey has been built on resilience and unity. Their decisive moment came last month with a narrow but crucial 1-0 win over Cameroon, a result that put them in control of Group D. 

A thrilling 3-3 draw away to Libya temporarily delayed their celebrations, but they made no mistake against Eswatini, showing composure and purpose to finish the job in front of their home fans.

Having first attempted to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, Cape Verde’s rise has been remarkable. Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, the nation has built a reputation for punching above its weight—most notably reaching the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals in both 2013 and 2023.

Cape Verde’s footballing ascent has been fuelled by a strong connection with its diaspora. With limited domestic resources and a modest 12-team top flight, the national team has relied heavily on players based overseas. 

Many have family roots across the islands but were born or raised in Europe, especially Portugal, the Netherlands, and France.

Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto “Pico” Lopes, one of the team’s key figures, famously received his first national team call-up via LinkedIn after coaches learned of his Cape Verdean heritage.

“We’re all over the world,” he said as per BBC.

“It’s great what we can achieve when we’re together.”

The squad, while lacking stars from Europe’s elite leagues, boasts cohesion, discipline, and an unshakeable team spirit. Their top scorer in qualifying, Netherlands-born Livramento, plays for Portuguese club Casa Pia, while coach Bubista—appointed in 2020—has instilled a solid defensive structure and belief that Cape Verde can compete with the continent’s best.

The qualification also highlights the impact of the expanded World Cup format. 

Africa now has nine guaranteed places at the 2026 finals, up from five in Qatar 2022, giving emerging nations like Cape Verde a clearer path to success. “

"This time, if you finish first, you’re in,” said Lopes. 

“That motivation has been crucial.”