Liputan6.com, Jakarta The Cape Verde national football team officially made history by securing their place in the 2026 World Cup finals.
This success marks a historic moment for the small island nation in the Atlantic Ocean, which will be appearing in the world's most prestigious football competition for the first time.
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This confirmation was achieved following the African zone qualifying match on Monday, October 13, 2025.
With a population of only around 525,000, this achievement is clear evidence that a country's size is no barrier to achieving brilliant achievements on the international stage.
The Blue Sharks, as the Cape Verdean national team is known, secured their World Cup spot after an impressive and dominant performance in the African Zone qualifying round, particularly in Group D.
Cape Verde emerged as Group D winners, four points ahead of strong favorites Cameroon.
In the deciding match, Cape Verde put on a convincing performance, defeating Eswatini 3-0.
Three winning goals from Willy Semedo, Rocha Livramento, and Stopira immediately sent the Cape Verdean public into euphoria and pride.
A Brilliant Journey in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
The Cape Verde national team was drawn into Group D of the 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF qualifying group alongside Angola, Cameroon, Eswatini, Libya, and Mauritius.
The qualifying matches in this group were played in a home-and-away round-robin format, with the winner of each group qualifying directly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This happened after Cape Verde made a convincing 3-0 victory over Eswatini.
This victory not only secured their top spot in Group D but show their dominance over the other teams, including World Cup regulars Cameroon.
Goals from Dallon Rocha Livramento, Willy Semedo, and Stopira were history-making for Cape Verde.
This result automatically placed them top of Group D, securing a spot in the World Cup, which will be held in North America.
Meanwhile, Cameroon had to settle for second place after only drawing against Angola in their final match.
Cape Verde's Outstanding Players and Manager
Under head coach Pedro Brito "Bubista," the team has built a solid foundation based on defensive structure, tactical organization, and swift transitions.
Cape Verdean football's progress has also been driven by investments in infrastructure and youth development, which have helped create a sustainable system that nurtures local talent.
Among the standouts in this remarkable journey are experienced international players like Ryan Mendes, Dylan Tavares, Jamiro Monteiro, and goalkeeper Vozinha, whose leadership and composure have been crucial throughout the season.
Cape Verde Football History and Achievements
Despite qualifying for the World Cup for the first time, the Cape Verdean national team has shown significant improvement in recent years.
The Cape Verdean Football Federation affiliated with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA in 1982 and their first attempt to reach the World Cup came in 2002.
Cape Verde has participated in several editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), qualifying in 2013, 2015, 2021, and 2023.
Their best finish at the Africa Cup of Nations was reaching the quarterfinals in 2013 and 2023.
Currently, Cape Verde is ranked 70th in the world, a position to be proud of.
Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is even more special because Cape Verde is now the second-smallest country ever to qualify for a World Cup, with a population of around 525,000.
This record is second only to Iceland, which appeared in the 2018 edition.