Cape Verde creates the feat at the World Cup and will challenge Argentina in the sixteenths

Cape Verde made history by becoming the smallest nation to reach the knockout stages of a World Cup. The “Blue Sharks” finished second in Group H and will face defending champion Argentina in the round of 32 in Miami on Friday.

Qualification was sealed after a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia, in which Cape Verdean players gathered on the pitch around mobile phones to watch Spain's victory against Uruguay – a result which gave them second place in the group. “Tears of pride and joy in the stands,” commented BBC Radio 5 Live's Rob Law from Houston, describing a “beautiful moment” when the crowd and players burst into tears at the final whistle.

Cape Verde's journey in this Group H will remain marked by collective solidity: after an opening 0-0 draw against Spain - where veteran goalkeeper Vozinha was heroic - and a 2-2 against Uruguay, the team confirmed that it could compete with great nations. Juan Mata, a former World Cup winner with Spain, praised the performance: “What they are doing is incredible, it wasn't just one game against Spain, it's three games at the highest level. »

Several factors explain this feat for a country of 525,000 inhabitants which qualified during the qualifiers ahead of Cameroon, five-time African champion. The Cape Verdean federation (FCF) has largely relied on its diaspora: 14 of the 26 players in the group were born outside the islands, including six in Rotterdam. Recruitment from abroad has made it possible to attract experienced profiles – Dailon Livramento, scorer of the decisive goal against Cameroon in qualifying, comes from the Portuguese Primeira Liga – and surprising trajectories, like that of defender Roberto Lopes, spotted via LinkedIn in 2019.

Sports patriotism combines with a solid organization. Coach Bubista, a former international defender and in office since January 2020, was able to build a compact team, organized defensively and equipped with technical midfielders and talented attackers. Cape Verde had also had a good run at CAN 2023, reaching the quarter-finals after beating Ghana and holding off Egypt.

Image

Discipline was also key: against Spain, the Cabo Verdeans committed just one foul — the lowest total recorded by a team in a World Cup match since 1966 — and Vozinha made seven saves to preserve the draw.

“We train and play as a unit, everything we do in the match is not a first for us,” defender Sidny Lopes Cabral told the BBC World Service, emphasizing the group's collective identity. Coach Bubista was rewarded for his work by being named African Coach of the Year 2025 by CAF.

Among the players, midfielder Deroy Duarte, elected man of the match against Saudi Arabia, summed up the group's emotion: “Honestly, it's crazy. I feel like I'm in a dream. First, let's celebrate. We are so happy. Tomorrow we focus on the next match. It's against Argentina, right? A tough match, but let's believe in it. Everything is possible. »

This scenario of Little Thumb facing the giants illustrates, as former coach Ange Postecoglou pointed out, “what the World Cup represents”: football which touches all regions of the globe and allows modest teams to experience exceptional moments. Gary Neville added that this success could make some revisit the criticism of the expansion of the tournament: “A country of 500,000 people in the knockout stage, what a great story. »

The Cape Verdean party will end if Argentina, guided by Lionel Messi, confirms its status as reigning champion. But before that, Cape Verde can already be proud of having shown the world its collective strength, its development plan and the wealth of its footballing diaspora.