Cape Verde is headed to its first ever FIFA World Cup.
Thanks to a 3-0 victory over Eswatini on Monday, the Blue Sharks will compete in the tournament co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Qualification is a remarkable achievement for a program that only began competing in World Cup qualifiers ahead of the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea. Cape Verde finishes atop CAF Group E, beating perennial African giants Cameroon to the automatic spot.
While virtually of the Blue Sharks squad is based in Europe, most are unheralded. Among the better known players used by manager Bubito during this qualification cycle are former Manchester United forward Bebe, now of third-tier Spanish side Ibiza, former Galatasaray and Fenerbahce winger Garry Rodrigues and midfielder Jamiro Monteiro, formerly of the Philadelphia Union and San Jose Earthquakes.
The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set for Dec. 5 in Washington, DC.
