Cape Verde have become the second-smallest nation ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup after a thrilling 3-0 home victory over Eswatini secured their place at the 2026 finals. The win, recorded in Praia, sealed top spot in their qualifying group ahead of African powerhouse Cameroon.
According to BBC Sport, Dailon Livramento opened the scoring for the Blue Sharks early in the second half, pouncing on a loose ball inside the six-yard box. Willy Semedo doubled the lead shortly afterward with a stunning volley, before veteran defender Stopira wrapped up the win in stoppage time, sending the 15,000-capacity National Stadium into wild celebration.
An archipelago of 10 islands off the coast of West Africa, Cape Verde has a population of just under 525,000 people, according to the World Bank. The island nation gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and made its first attempt to qualify for the World Cup in 2002. Their qualification for the 2026 edition, which will be hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, marks a remarkable milestone in African football history.
Cape Verde have consistently punched above their weight in international football. They made their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) debut in 2013 and reached the quarter-finals, repeating the same feat in 2023. The Blue Sharks currently sit 70th in the FIFA World Rankings a testament to their steady rise on the continental stage.
Last month’s 1-0 victory over Cameroon in Praia gave Cape Verde the upper hand in Group D, leaving them needing just one more win to seal qualification. Although they stumbled against Libya in Tripoli with a 3-3 draw — a match marred by a controversial offside call denying them a stoppage-time winner they made no mistakes this time against Eswatini, who are yet to win a game in the group.
With this victory, Cape Verde became the sixth African team to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, joining early qualifiers such as Morocco and Senegal. Their achievement makes them the smallest African nation to ever reach the global showpiece and the second-smallest worldwide after Iceland, who featured at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
The 9am News report highlights that Cape Verde’s qualification underscores the growing competitiveness in African football, showing that smaller nations can challenge traditional heavyweights with discipline, teamwork, and vision. For the Blue Sharks, it’s not just a football triumph it’s a historic moment of national pride and unity.
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