- Cape Verde qualify for their first-ever World Cup after beating Eswatini 3-0.
- The island nation becomes the second-smallest country ever to reach the tournament.
- Goals from Livramento, Semedo, and Stopira sealed the historic win.
- The Blue Sharks topped their group ahead of Cameroon.
- President José Maria Neves watched the emotional victory in Praia.
Cape Verde has etched their name in football history after qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the second-smallest nation ever to do so.
The Blue Sharks booked their ticket with a 3-0 win over Eswatini in Praia, sealing top spot in their group ahead of African powerhouse Cameroon.
Dailon Livramento opened the scoring early in the second half, pouncing on a loose ball to give his side the lead. Willy Semedo made it 2-0 with a brilliant volley, before veteran defender Stopira added the third in stoppage time, sending the packed National Stadium into wild celebration.
With a population of just 525,000, Cape Verde, a ten-island archipelago off West Africa, has defied all odds.
They follow Iceland, which qualified for the 2018 World Cup, as the smallest nation to ever appear on football’s biggest stage.
Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, the country has gradually built a football culture that emphasises discipline and teamwork.
The Blue Sharks have reached the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals twice (2013 and 2023) and are currently ranked 70th in the world by FIFA.
Cape Verde’s qualification run was marked by consistency and resilience.
A 1-0 win over Cameroon last month put them in control of Group D, needing just one more win to confirm qualification. After a frustrating 3-3 draw against Libya, where a stoppage-time goal was ruled out for offside, they completed the job emphatically at home against Eswatini.
President José Maria Neves attended the match, celebrating with the players after the final whistle in scenes that captured the nation’s pride and joy.
Cape Verde’s World Cup qualification marks a historic chapter in African football, proving that determination, planning, and unity can overcome size and odds.
For the Blue Sharks and their fans, the dream has finally come true: the islands are going global.
