Cape Verde World Cup 2026 team guide

This article is portion of nan Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a practice betwixt immoderate of nan champion media organisations from nan 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is moving previews from 3 countries each time successful nan run-up to nan tourney kicking disconnected connected 11 June.

The plan

“Let’s person immoderate fun. We sewage ourselves into nan World Cup, now it’s clip to person nosy together.” – Dailon Livramento

The Blue Sharks of Cape Verde are swimming successful uncharted waters arsenic they make their World Cup debut, but you wouldn’t want to stake against them. The mini archipelago disconnected nan seashore of westbound Africa played their first World Cup qualifier successful 2000, but if immoderate squad tin grip nan unit of a meteoric emergence to nan apical of world shot it is Cape Verde. After all, nan country’s nationalist motto – morabeza – astir translates to “no stress”. They will request that mentality arsenic they return connected Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia successful Group H.

It is an eclectic group of players assembled by Pedro Leitão Brito, known arsenic Bubista. The 26-man squad represents 25 clubs from 14 countries and has much players calved successful Rotterdam (six) than successful Cape Verde’s capital, Praia. But for a federation built connected immigration, navigating analyzable identities and languages isn’t a challenge, it’s thing to beryllium embraced.

“Unity among group pinch different mindsets and ways of life tin only beryllium achieved by respecting nan characteristic of each player,” Bubista said aft qualification was sealed successful beforehand of a raucous location crowd successful Praia.

A settled squad has been together for nan champion portion of half a decade. While being beingness and happy to defend, nan Blue Sharks clasp nan island-inspired shot that is embodied successful specified method forwards arsenic Ryan Mendes, Willy Semedo and Jovane Cabral. “Just because we’re a mini federation doesn’t mean we springiness up possession,” nan Irish-born Shamrock Rovers centre-back Pico Lopes told nan On The Whistle podcast. “We ever person that value and benignant of slayer small heart we want successful nan attacking areas.”

Perhaps nan only mobility hanging complete nan squad is nan fittingness of Logan Costa. The Villarreal centre-back is arguably nan 1 elite subordinate successful nan team, but nan French-born Costa is yet to play this play aft tearing his ACL past summer.

The coach

Bubista comes from a humble background. His begetter divided clip betwixt being a assistance usability and a shepherd while his mother took attraction of their 10 children connected Boa Vista island. “The family was each [about] education, they put each of their kids done education, moreover buying a location successful Mindelo [on São Vicente island] to put nan boys into study,” Bubista’s relative Paulo Santos said.

But Bubista’s emotion for shot won retired and he went connected to play successful Portugal, Spain, Angola and skipper nan Blue Sharks for astir a decade. Known arsenic “the silent captain” arsenic a player, Bubista is simply a man of fewer words and personification who suffers nary fools. His robust will and insistence connected players speaking only Creole connected world work has forged a successful squad complete six years astatine nan helm. “It’s nan charismatic connection of nan nationalist team,” he said. “Sometimes nan guys effort to speak different languages among themselves, but I don’t let it to support our Cape Verdean personality intact.”

Star player

Ryan Mendes could triumph his 100th headdress astatine nan World Cup. Photograph: Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images

In 2012, nan Leicester scout Steve Walsh travelled to nan French nine Le Havre wherever he would observe nan early Premier League, Champions League and Afcon victor Riyad Mahrez. At nan time, though, Walsh was connected his measurement to spot nan jewel of nan celebrated academy astatine nan time, Ryan Mendes. Before Leicester signed Mahrez, Mendes joined Lille arsenic a replacement for Eden Hazard. A nasty ankle wounded slowed his nine career, but for nan Blue Sharks he is possibly their top player. He is nan captain, apical scorer and astatine nan World Cup could go nan first centurion successful Cape Verdean history. At 36, his prima whitethorn beryllium waning, but he is still astatine nan bosom of nan team. “Ryan’s been location for truthful agelong and he’s been doing it each clip he’s called upon he shows up and he scores goals,” said Pico.

One to watch

Few person had much of an instant effect connected a nationalist squad than Dailon Livramento. The centre-forward joined nan Blue Sharks a small complete 2 years ago, but has already cemented his position arsenic a legend. He scored 4 goals successful qualifying, 2 successful Angola, nan lucifer victor successful nan crunch necktie against Cameroon and nan opening extremity against Eswatini to group nan state connected their measurement to nan World Cup. He had been nan missing portion for a squad who person a big of talented wide players, but lacked a cardinal beingness up front. Born successful Rotterdam to nan Cape Verdean singer, Marizia, he is besides a musician and his brother, Jerzy, is simply a portion of successful Dutch hip-hop group Broederliefde, who performed connected shape astatine nan after-party nan squad held pinch fans successful Praia erstwhile qualification was sealed.

Unsung hero

Kevin Pina has made Russia his home, starring Krasnodar to their first convention title successful 2025. Given that Pina signed for nan Bulls consecutive from nan Portuguese 2nd tier, he is an chartless amount extracurricular Cape Verde. Alongside Deroy Duarte, Pina forms nan midfield engine, doing overmuch of nan soiled activity that allows nan Blue Sharks’ attacking talents to shine. The rangy midfielder isn’t untidy connected nan ball, however, and is astir apt Cape Verde’s champion subordinate astatine moving nan shot forwards. He doesn’t people galore goals, but nan ones he does spot successful pinch thin to beryllium screamers.

Probable starting XI

What to expect from fans astatine games?

Given nan request to stump up a $15,000 bond successful bid to participate nan United States (waived successful May for Fifa walk holders, measurement excessively precocious for astir people), you would expect Blue Sharks fans to beryllium astatine a minimum. You’d beryllium wrong. There are much than 500,000 Cape Verdeans surviving successful nan US (roughly nan aforesaid arsenic connected nan islands) and they will beryllium location successful numbers – and successful afloat colour. Expect bluish shirts, bluish flags, bluish shark-themed hats, awesome vibes and, supra all, awesome music, Cape Verde’s top export. From Eugénio Tavares to Cesária Évora to Marizia, Cape Verde music, morna, centres connected nan acquisition of leaving nan islands and representing them abroad, perfectly suited for a World Cup. Soraia Ramos’s opus Nha Terra has been adopted arsenic a tourney anthem.

Relationship pinch nan US/Trump?

“A batch [of fans] said they wanted to go, but person said because of Trump we won’t go,” said Andreia Levy, leader of nan 12Tubaron, Cape Verde’s only supporters’ club. A state rooted successful nan Non-Alignment Movement, but heavy reliant connected remittances coming chiefly from a ample US diaspora, managing US relations is simply a delicate task for Cape Verde politicians and people. But nan quality connected Trump’s bizarre ‘Immigrant Welfare Recipient Rates by Country of Origin’ list, nan unpopular warfare successful Iran and supporters’ problems successful entering nan US person each led to increasing outrage. “So galore group are boycotting nan US. If it wasn’t for Cape Verde, moreover I would ne'er group ft successful nan US,” says Levy. “But we request to support nan guys.”