Just 10 days into the FIFA World Cup 2026, the tournament has already produced several talking points. The smaller teams have given the bigger nations a serious run for their money, and at the forefront is Cape Verde, an island nation off the western coast of Africa.
Cape Verde now has a realistic chance of progressing to the Round of 32. They only need to beat Saudi Arabia to pull off one of the most compelling stories of the FIFA World Cup.
The Blue Sharks, as they are fondly called, have announced themselves at the biggest stage with some style and panache. The FIFA World Cup started with Cape Verde being the rank outsiders, but two matches in, the side is now a genuine contender for a place in the knockout stages.
Against Spain, Cape Verde pulled off one of the tournament's biggest upsets, frustrating La Roja for 90 minutes with a disciplined defensive masterclass. Spain may have dominated possession and created numerous chances, but Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha produced a heroic display to preserve a famous goalless draw.
Cape Verde matched Uruguay blow for blow in a thrilling draw. Kevin Pina etched his name into national folklore by scoring the country's first-ever World Cup goal with a spectacular long-range free kick. Hélio Varela then struck the equaliser in the second half to earn Cape Verde a famous point.
The result against Uruguay proved that the performance against Spain was no fluke. With two draws from two matches, Cape Verde are firmly in the hunt for a place in the Round of 32.
