A tiny island nation, Cape Verde, is on the cusp of an incredible achievement. With fewer than 600,000 people, this football team is just one game away from making history. They could qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the very first time.
The dream could become real as early as next Tuesday. If the Blue Sharks, as they are known, beat Libya away from home, they’ll book their tickets to the 2026 World Cup. Even a draw might be enough if Cameroon doesn’t win their match against Mauritius on the same day. These are the crucial games in the second-to-last round of Group D in Africa’s qualification.
Should Tuesday not go their way, Cape Verde still has another shot at glory. The following Monday, they host Eswatini, a team stuck at the bottom of the group. Eswatini hasn’t won a single game in eight attempts, making this a promising backup chance for Cape Verde to secure their spot.
The team’s current position is incredibly strong. Coached by Pedro Brito, known as ‘Bubista’, Cape Verde leads their group with 19 points. This puts them four points clear of Cameroon, who many expected to top the group easily. Only the first-place team gets a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
Libya sits in third place with 14 points, just one point behind Cameroon. These two teams will likely battle for second place. The best four second-place teams from all the groups get a chance to play in an African play-off, which could then lead to an intercontinental play-off for a World Cup spot. Angola is in fourth with 10 points. They can no longer finish first but could still impact the race between Cameroon and Libya. Mauritius and Eswatini are out of the running for 2026 and will be looking ahead to the 2030 tournament, which Portugal, Spain, and Morocco will host.
For Cape Verde, it’s time to start thinking about packing for the United States, Mexico, or Canada. These three nations will host the 2026 World Cup from June 11 to July 19. A qualification for Cape Verde would also mean more players from Portuguese leagues showcasing their talent on the world’s biggest stage.
In their last official game, a vital 1-0 win over Cameroon less than a month ago, five players in the starting lineup play in Portugal. Dailon Livramento from Casa Pia scored that historic goal. Goalkeeper Vozinha plays for Desportivo de Chaves, Yannick Semedo for Farense, Telmo Arcanjo for Vitória de Guimarães, and Jovane Cabral for Estrela da Amadora.
Coach ‘Bubista’, 55, is set to etch his name into his country’s football history. He even represented Cape Verde as a player in the early 2000s. His own playing career included a brief period with Estoril Praia during the 2002/03 season.
Cape Verde’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. They boast six wins, one draw, and only a single loss – a 4-1 defeat to Cameroon. Many believe their exceptional performance means they might have qualified for the World Cup even before it expanded to include 48 teams.