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Cape Verde have made history by qualifying for their first-ever FIFA World Cup, with the final 26-man squad for the 2026 edition officially confirmed.

The Blue Sharks will be among the debutants at the summer tournament, marking a new era for Cape Verdean football on the global stage.

Their qualification for World Cup 2026 is considered the greatest sporting achievement in the nation’s history. Despite having one of the least experienced teams in the competition, supporters are expected to create a festive atmosphere at every match.

Head coach Bubista has chosen a balanced mix of players, though only one — Villarreal’s Logan Costa — currently features in one of Europe’s top five leagues. As a result, Cape Verde enter the tournament as underdogs.

There are several remarkable stories within the squad. Captain Ryan Mendes, the nation’s top scorer and most-capped player, will lead the team 16 years after making his international debut. Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland-born Pico will represent Shamrock Rovers at the international level.

Few surprise omissions have been made. The most notable absentee is goalkeeper Bruno Varela, the most-experienced player to miss out among those who featured under Bubista last year, although he has only eight caps to his name.

Cape Verde face a challenging group in the United States this summer, with fixtures against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. Securing even a single win could put them in contention for a place in the knockout rounds — a dream that now feels within reach.

Cape Verde World Cup 2026 Squad

Goalkeepers: Vozinha (Chaves), Marcio Rosa (Montana), CJ dos Santos (San Diego)

Defenders: Stopira (Torreense), Pico (Shamrock Rovers), Joao Paulo (FCSB), Diney (Al Bataeh), Logan Costa (Villarreal), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Wagner Pina (Trabzonspor), Sidny Lopes Cabral (Benfica), Kelvin Pires (SJK)

Midfielders: Jamiro Monteiro (PEC Zwolle), Kevin Pina (Krasnodar), Deroy Duarte (Ludogorets Razgrad), Telmo Arcanjo (Vitoria de Guimaraes), Laros Duarte (Puskas Akademia), Yannick Semedo (Farense)

Forwards: Ryan Mendes (Igdir), Garry Rodrigues (Apollon Limassol), Willy Semedo (Omonia), Jovane Cabral (Estrela Amadora), Benchimol (Akron Tolyatti), Dailon Livramento (Casa Pia), Helio Varela (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Nuno da Costa (Istanbul Basaksehir)

World Cup 2026 Fixtures:

June 15, 2026: Spain vs Cape Verde, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States

June 21, 2026: Uruguay vs Cape Verde, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, United States

June 27, 2026: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, NRG Stadium, Houston, United States

Recent Results:

March 30, 2026: Cape Verde 1-1 Finland, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand

March 27, 2026: Chile 4-2 Cape Verde, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand

November 17, 2025: Egypt 1-1 Cape Verde (2-0 pens), Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, UAE

November 13, 2025: Iran 0-0 Cape Verde (5-4 pens), Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, UAE

October 13, 2025: Cape Verde 3-0 Eswatini, Stade National, Praia, Cape Verde

October 08, 2025: Libya 3-3 Cape Verde, 11 June Stadium, Tripoli, Libya

September 09, 2025: Cape Verde 1-0 Cameroon, Stade National, Praia, Cape Verde

September 04, 2025: Mauritius 0-2 Cape Verde, Cote d'Or National Sports Complex, Saint Pierre, Mauritius

June 08, 2025: Georgia 1-1 Cape Verde, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia

May 29, 2025: Malaysia 0-3 Cape Verde (Awarded), Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

March 25, 2025: Angola 1-2 Cape Verde, Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola

March 20, 2025: Cape Verde 1-0 Mauritius, Stade National, Praia, Cape Verde

Cape Verde have been drawn in Group H for the World Cup 2026.

Head coach Pedro Leitao Brito, popularly known as Bubista, has led Cape Verde to three major tournaments since taking charge in 2020. Under his management, the team reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations for the second time in their history and currently boasts a 48% win rate under his leadership.

Bubista made 28 appearances for his country as a player, captaining the side on several occasions before transitioning into management.

Captain Ryan Mendes remains Cape Verde’s most-capped player and top goal scorer. At 36, this World Cup is expected to be his final major tournament. As captain and lead striker, he will aim to inspire his nation in their maiden World Cup appearance.

— Reported by Ewan Gennery, Freelance Sports Writer