Cape Verde Qualifies for 2026 World Cup Debut

Cape Verde qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after topping its CAF qualifying group. The team finished with 23 points, four ahead of Cameroon, after winning eight of ten matches and keeping a clean sheet in all five home games. The country of roughly 600,000 people and 4,000 square kilometers becomes the third-smallest nation to reach the tournament after Curaçao and Iceland.

Verde began the final day of qualifiers two points ahead of Cameroon. A win on that day secured direct qualification while Cameroon was eliminated in the second round. The team had previously reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and 2023 and came within one match of reaching the 2022 World Cup.

Head coach Bubista, whose full name is Pedro Leitao Brito, has led the national team since early 2020. A former international with 21 caps, he guided the side to consecutive Africa Cup of Nations knockout appearances before the World Cup qualification.

Forward Dailon Livramento scored four goals during qualifying. Defender Diney, midfielder Jamiro Monteiro, and winger Willy Semedo each scored twice. Captain Ryan Mendes, goalkeeper Vozinha, and defender Roberto Lopes are additional key players.

All three Cape Verde matches will be played in the United States. The schedule lists Spain versus Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta, Uruguay versus Cape Verde on June 21 in Miami, and Cape Verde versus Saudi Arabia on June 26 in Houston.