Cape Verde made historical past on Monday by becoming a member of the checklist of countries headed to North America for the 2026 World Cup — the primary within the nation’s historical past. With lower than 9 months to go earlier than the event kicks off, a number of groups have already secured their debut within the revamped and expanded version of the competitors.
On Monday, Cape Verde confronted a singular alternative to clinch a World Cup berth. Forward of the ultimate qualifier, the nationwide crew sat atop Group D within the CAF World Cup qualifiers with 20 factors from 9 matches, simply forward of Cameroon’s 18. Controlling their very own future after a missed likelihood in a 3-3 draw in opposition to Libya, the Blue Sharks wanted solely to complete the job in opposition to Eswatini.
In entrance of a packed Cape Verde Nationwide Stadium, the hosts exploded after a goalless first half. Dailon Livramento (48’), Willy Semedo (54’), and Stopira (90+1’) all discovered the again of the web to seal a 3-0 victory, and with Cameroon drawing 0-0 in opposition to Angola, Cape Verde’s qualification was confirmed.
With this achievement, Cape Verde turns into the second least-populous nation ever to qualify for a World Cup. The island nation’s inhabitants of round 527,000 trails solely Iceland’s 352,000, when the latter certified for the 2018 version in Russia.
FIFA welcomes Cape Verde to the 2026 World Cup.
Ranked seventieth within the FIFA standings, Cape Verde may also be the smallest nation by land space ever to seem at a World Cup — its 4,000 sq. kilometers (1,545 sq. miles) unfold throughout ten islands are even smaller than Trinidad and Tobago’s 5,000 km² (1,930 sq. mi.) after they certified for Germany 2006. Including to the celebration, the federal government declared a half-day vacation so all the nation may watch the sport, underscoring simply how significant this historic feat is.
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Cape Verde and the opposite debutant nations
Cape Verde turned the twenty second nation to qualify for the expanded 2026 World Cup, which can be hosted throughout three international locations. With 26 spots nonetheless open, the 48-team format has provided new alternatives for smaller nations to dream large — and Cape Verde shouldn’t be the one debutant confirmed up to now.
The primary new nation to punch its ticket to the 2026 World Cup was Uzbekistan. In early June, with one match left within the third spherical of AFC qualifiers, Uzbekistan secured its place following a scoreless draw on June 5 in opposition to the United Arab Emirates, ending second within the group behind Iran.
The second debutant to qualify was Jordan. On the ultimate matchday of Group B, Jordan claimed a dominant 3-0 win over Oman, and with South Korea’s victory over Iraq, clinched second place within the group — and with it, a ticket to North America.
