By Juan Samuel Santana Chávez

Cape Verde's national team has become one of the great stories of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Known as the "Blue Sharks," they represent a small island country located off the western coast of Africa, about 600 kilometers from Senegal. The archipelago is made up of ten volcanic islands and has a population of nearly 525,000 inhabitants, making it one of the smallest nations to compete in a World Cup.

The 2026 edition marks Cape Verde's first-ever World Cup appearance, after achieving historic qualification in the African qualifiers. Under the technical direction of Bubista, the team secured their spot after defeating Eswatini and leaving behind teams with greater continental tradition. The Cape Verdean squad has based its growth on footballers born or raised in the diaspora, mainly in Portugal, France, the Netherlands, and other European countries.

Most of their players compete in European leagues. Standout players include the veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, full-back Nélson Semedo, defender Roberto Lopes, and forward Ryan Mendes, who bring international experience to a squad that combines defensive order and counter-attacking speed. This very solidity was demonstrated in their World Cup debut when they drew 0-0 against Spain, one of the title contenders.

The draw caused surprise reactions worldwide and was hailed as one of the tournament's first major upsets. While the Spanish press spoke of "disappointment," "disaster," and "impotence" due to La Roja's lack of finishing, Cape Verde's defensive performance was widely praised, especially for Vozinha's saves and the African team's tactical discipline. The result left both teams with one point in Group H, which also includes Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. For Cape Verde, the historic draw represents much more than a single point: it is the confirmation that their World Cup dream is serious.