Spotlight on Cape Verde: The Blue Sharks ready to make history at the 2026 World Cup

Africa Today at 04:45

Nouya M'toama

News Editor

Cape Verdean football is on the brink of its greatest moment. For the first time since joining FIFA, Cape Verde will compete in a World Cup. This is a historic qualification for this Atlantic archipelago of nearly 550,000 inhabitants, which has been steadily rising on the continental stage for several years..

They are known as the Blue Sharks (Tubarões Azuis), and in just a few days, they'll be swimming in waters they've never explored before. Cape Verde becomes the smallest nation by area ever to qualify for a World Cup, dethroning Iceland for that record.

For this remote Atlantic archipelago, this global event is about much more than sport: it's a declaration of existence. Long seen as an emerging nation in African football, the Cape Verdean team has gradually established itself thanks to a talented generation, largely drawn from the diaspora.

A heroic journey

During the qualifiers, Cape Verde topped their group with 23 points in 10 matches: 7 wins, 2 draws, and just one defeat, scoring 16 goals and conceding 8. The Blue Sharks finished ahead of traditional tournament regulars like Cameroon (19 points) and Angola (12 points).

The qualification truly took shape on September 9, 2025, with a crucial victory over Cameroon (1-0). A few months earlier, Yannick Semedo’s goal against Mauritius had already put Cape Verde in pole position in the group. Then, on October 13, in a packed Estádio Nacional with nearly 15,000 fans, goals from Dailon Livramento, Willy Semedo, and Stopira officially booked their ticket to the United States.

Pedro “Bubista” Brito, architect of the Cape Verdean miracle

This qualification is the result of the work undertaken by coach Pedro “Bubista” Brito since his appointment in 2020. A former Cape Verde international, Bubista has built a disciplined, united, and competitive squad, capable of standing up to theoretically stronger opponents. Under his leadership, Cape Verde has gained maturity and credibility on the African scene.

At 55 years old, Bubista is the kind of coach who celebrates victories more than goals. Switching between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1, he has forged a well-drilled collective, built on solid defensive organization and a midfield that can quickly transition forward.

In 62 games in charge of the Blue Sharks, his record stands at 29 wins, 13 draws, and 20 defeats. This steady progression alone illustrates the rise of Cape Verdean football.

The results have followed this upward trajectory. At AFCON 2023, his team beat Ghana (2-1), dominated Mozambique (3-0), held Egypt to a draw (2-2), and eliminated Mauritania in the round of 16. During World Cup qualifying, they strung together five consecutive victories, with major wins over Angola and Cameroon.

The crowning moment came in November 2025 when Bubista was named African Coach of the Year at the CAF Awards, ahead of Walid Regragui and Mohamed Ouahbi.

A man of his island, a coach for his people, he has turned an archipelago of 550,000 into a World Cup nation.

Ryan Mendes, symbol of an ambitious generation

Among the key figures in this squad, Ryan Mendes holds a special place.

The captain and most experienced player, the former Lille striker will, at 36, play in the most prestigious competition of his career. His leadership, international experience, and knowledge of top-level football will be invaluable in guiding a team discovering the World Cup stage for the first time.

Part of the national team since 2010, Ryan Mendes is Cape Verde’s most capped player and all-time top scorer with 94 appearances and 22 goals.

He featured at AFCON 2013, 2015, 2021, and 2023, reaching the quarterfinals in the last two editions. In every campaign, he has embodied the Blue Sharks’ identity: technical, combative, and never giving up.

At 36, while many players have already hung up their boots, Ryan Mendes is about to step onto a World Cup pitch for the first time. It’s a reward built patiently, match after match, season after season, in the blue jersey.

Cape Verde also draws on a generation largely made up of players from the European diaspora. This diversity of profiles brings technical and tactical richness that has been instrumental in the team’s rise in recent years.

A tough group, but clear ambitions

Tactically, the Blue Sharks usually line up in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. Their main strength lies in their collective organization. The team favors a compact shape, strong defensive discipline, and quick transitions to attack. This cohesion, forged over successive continental campaigns, is their key weapon.

The draw, however, was not kind. In Group H, Cape Verde will face Spain on June 15 in Atlanta, Uruguay on June 22 in Miami, and then Saudi Arabia on June 27.

Against two giants of world football, Cape Verde will have the underdog tag.

The lack of global experience and the presence of several aging key players also present significant challenges. Nevertheless, this team has already shown it can defy the odds.

If they can maintain their defensive solidity and exploit space on the counter, they could well be one of the surprise packages of the 2026 World Cup.

Tournament outlook

Cape Verde will approach this World Cup with no pressure. Against Spain and Uruguay, the Blue Sharks will be underdogs. However, the match against Saudi Arabia could prove decisive in the race for a possible spot in the round of 16.

An early exit in the group stage remains the most likely scenario given the quality of the group. Still, this team has already proven it can upset expectations.

If they keep their defensive discipline and remain efficient in transitions, the dream of a historic run could stay alive until the final matchday.

The 26-man squad

Goalkeepers

CJ dos Santos, Marcio Rosa, Vozinha

Defenders

Edilson Borges, Sidny Cabral, Logan Costa, Roberto Lopes, Steven Moreira, João Paulo, Wagner Pina, Kelvin Pires, Stopira

Midfielders

Telmo Arcanjo, Deroy Duarte, Laros Duarte, Jamiro Monteiro, Kevin Pina, Yannick Semedo

Forwards

Gilson Benchimol, Jovane Cabral, Nuno da Costa, Dailon Livramento, Ryan Mendes, Garry Rodrigues, Willy Semedo, Hélio Varela