Cape Verde World Cup 2026.Cape Verde, officially Cabo Verde, are making their first appearance at the FIFA World Cup in 2026. The Blue Sharks are also one of the smallest nations by size and population to qualify for the tournament, making their World Cup story one of the biggest underdog narratives of the competition.
Cape Verde enter the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a squad built on experience, discipline and strong team spirit. Below is everything you need to know about Cape Verde at the World Cup, including the squad, fixtures, results, group table, standings, statistics and predictions.
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Cape Verde national team profile overview
| Profile item | Cape Verde national team details |
| Official team name | Cabo Verde national football team |
| Common English name | Cape Verde |
| Nickname | Tubarões Azuis / Blue Sharks |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Head coach | Pedro “Bubista” Leitão Brito |
| Captain | Ryan Mendes |
| Star players | Ryan Mendes, Vozinha, Roberto “Pico” Lopes, Stopira |
| World Cup appearances | 1, including the 2026 tournament |
| Home stadium | Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde |
| Football association | Cape Verdean Football Federation |
| 2026 World Cup group | Group H |
| Group opponents | Spain, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay |
Cape Verde World Cup 2026 qualification
Cape Verde’s World Cup 2026 qualification campaign came through CAF Group D, where they faced Cameroon, Libya, Angola, Mauritius and Eswatini.
The Blue Sharks won seven of their ten matches, drew two and lost one. They also won all their home matches at the Estádio Nacional in Praia, including a 3-0 victory over Eswatini.
Cape Verde finished top of the group with 23 points and qualified directly for their first FIFA World Cup ahead of Cameroon.
Cape Verde World Cup 2026 group
Cape Verde are competing in FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H. The group also includes Spain, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
Their opening match against Spain gave the Blue Sharks an immediate test against one of the tournament favourites. The remaining fixtures against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay will be important for Cape Verde’s hopes of staying competitive in the group.
Cape Verde World Cup 2026 fixtures and match schedule
Get the complete World Cup schedule, including Cape Verde fixtures, on the SportPesa Blog.
Cape Verde’s World Cup 2026 schedule includes opponents, venues and kickoff times in South African Standard Time.
Cape Verde results at FIFA World Cup 2026
Stay updated with FIFA World Cup 2026 results on SportPesa, including Cape Verde scores, goals, match outcomes and team performance.
Cape Verde World Cup 2026 table and standings
Visit the SportPesa standings section for the complete Cape Verde World Cup 2026 standings. The table includes matches played, wins, draws, losses, goals scored, goals conceded, goal difference and points.
| Rank | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Uruguay | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | Saudi Arabia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Spain | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Cape Verde | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Cape Verde World Cup 2026 players
Coach Pedro “Bubista” Leitão Brito named the Cape Verde World Cup 2026 squad on 18 May 2026. Captain Ryan Mendes leads the roster, supported by experienced players such as Vozinha, Logan Costa and Jamiro Monteiro.
Cape Verde goalkeepers
| Player | Age | Height | Weight | Apps | Subs | Saves |
| Vozinha | 40 | 6’2″ | 161 lbs | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Márcio Rosa | 29 | 6’1″ | 181 lbs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CJ dos Santos | 25 | 6’3″ | 168 lbs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cape Verde defenders
| Player | Age | Height | Weight | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| Stopira | 38 | 5’10” | 159 lbs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Diney Borges | 31 | 6’1″ | 172 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pico Lopes | 33 | 6’1″ | 183 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Logan Costa | 25 | 6’3″ | 201 lbs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sidny Lopes Cabral | 23 | 5’9″ | 161 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steven Moreira | 31 | 5’10” | 159 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wagner Pina | 23 | 5’11” | 159 lbs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kelvin Pires | 26 | 6’4″ | 185 lbs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cape Verde midfielders
| Player | Age | Height | Weight | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| Kevin Pina | 29 | 5’11” | 174 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| João Paulo | 28 | 5’11” | 163 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jamiro Monteiro | 32 | 5’9″ | 150 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Deroy Duarte | 26 | 5’10” | 152 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Laros Duarte | 29 | 5’11” | 159 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Yannick Semedo | 30 | 5’9″ | 130 lbs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Telmo Arcanjo | 24 | 5’11” | 172 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Cape Verde forwards
| Player | Age | Height | Weight | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| Jovane Cabral | 28 | 5’9″ | 159 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Gilson Benchimol | 24 | 6’2″ | 172 lbs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Garry Rodrigues | 35 | 5’8″ | 150 lbs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Willy Semedo | 32 | 6’1″ | 150 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dailon Livramento | 25 | 6’1″ | 161 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ryan Mendes | 36 | 5’10” | 152 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nuno da Costa | 35 | 6’0″ | 150 lbs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Hélio Varela | 24 | 5’9″ | 159 lbs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cape Verde World Cup kit
Capelli Sport produces Cape Verde’s 2026 World Cup kits. The home kit is deep blue with red trim and subtle triangular patterns representing the connections between the islands.
The away kit has a white base with blue and red detailing, while the third kit is deep red with a centred FCF logo. The goalkeeper kit is yellow with black detailing under the arms and shoulders.
Cape Verde World Cup 2026 coach
Pedro Leitão Brito, also known as Bubista, has led Cape Verde since 2020. The former centre-back and Cape Verde captain has built a team known for defensive discipline and quick counterattacks.
His leadership helped guide the Blue Sharks to their first FIFA World Cup qualification.
Cape Verde World Cup 2026 statistics
Cape Verde have one of the more experienced squads at the 2026 World Cup. Many of the players come from the country’s strong football diaspora, giving the team experience from several leagues and football cultures.
Download the SportPesa Score App to follow Cape Verde statistics, fixtures, live scores, results and latest World Cup news.
Cape Verde World Cup 2026 predictions, betting tips and odds
Pre-tournament expectations were low because Cape Verde entered the competition as a debutant and underdog in a group featuring Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
However, the Blue Sharks have already shown they can challenge stronger football nations. Their qualification campaign proved that they are organised, difficult to beat and dangerous when underestimated.
Check SportPesa for Cape Verde World Cup 2026 betting markets, match predictions and available odds.
Why underdog Cape Verde can surprise at the World Cup
Cape Verde are often underestimated, but that can work in their favour. The Blue Sharks have an experienced squad, strong team identity and a defensive structure that allows them to compete against bigger football nations.
Their World Cup run will depend on discipline, counterattacking speed and the leadership of experienced players such as Ryan Mendes, Vozinha and Pico Lopes.
FAQs on Cape Verde World Cup 2026
How close is Cape Verde to Africa?
Cape Verde is located in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 600 to 850 km from the West African coast near Senegal.
How many World Cups has Cape Verde played in?
The 2026 World Cup is Cape Verde’s first FIFA World Cup appearance.
What group is Cape Verde in at the World Cup 2026?
Cape Verde are in Group H with Spain, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
Where was Spain vs Cape Verde played?
The Group H match between Spain and Cape Verde was played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
What is Cape Verde’s nickname?
Cape Verde are known as the Blue Sharks, or Tubarões Azuis.
Conclusion
Cape Verde enter the 2026 FIFA World Cup as debutants and underdogs, but their experienced squad and strong qualification campaign give them reason to believe they can compete.
The Blue Sharks will rely on defensive organisation, quick transitions and experienced leaders as they try to challenge Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in Group H.
Follow SportPesa for Cape Verde World Cup 2026 fixtures, results, standings, squad news, predictions and betting markets.
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