Cape Verde National Team to Make World Cup Debut: Who Will Be the Key to an Upset. Cape Verde is making its World Cup debut, landing in a group with Spain and Uruguay. The team qualified by outperforming Cameroon. The spotlight is on their unity and a handful of leading players.
The Cape Verde national team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time in history and immediately found itself in the same group as Spain and Uruguay. The African team, which was not previously considered a favorite, confidently advanced through the qualifiers, leaving Cameroon behind, and is now preparing for its debut against Spain on Monday.
In the qualifiers, Cape Verde took first place in Group D, and in the last friendly matches secured two victories with the same score of 3-0—against Serbia and Bermuda. This result was a surprise even for many fans, and the secret to their success, according to team representatives, lies in the unity of the squad rather than in individual stars.
Nevertheless, there are a few key figures in the lineup. Goalkeeper Josimar "Vozinha," who is already 40 years old, is considered a living legend of the national team. He plays for the Portuguese club Chaves and, since 2013, has consistently appeared in the country’s main tournaments. Team captain Ryan Mendes is the top scorer in national team history and holds the record for most appearances. In the upcoming tournament, he could become the first Cape Verde player to reach 100 caps for the national team.
In defense, Logan Costa stands out — the only team member playing in one of Europe's top five leagues. The defender, born in France, plays for Spain's Villarreal. Despite a recent injury, he returned to action by the start of the championship. In attack, an important role is played by Dailon Livramento, a forward for Portugal's Casa Pia, who is on loan from Italy's Verona. He was called up to the national team only in 2024 but has already scored seven goals in the qualifiers, including decisive goals against Cameroon and Eswatini.
In Cabo Verde's group, alongside Spain and Uruguay, is also the national team of Saudi Arabia. All three opponents have experience in major tournaments, while for Cabo Verde this is their debut on the world stage. Other debutants in this championship are Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Spain, as noted by russpain.com, is entering the tournament with a revamped squad and a record unbeaten streak, adding intrigue to the opening group match.
For reference: Cabo Verde is an island nation off the west coast of Africa, consisting of 10 islands, 9 of which are inhabited. The official language is Portuguese, but a Creole dialect is widely spoken in everyday life. Football is developing rapidly in the country, and the success of the national team at the 2026 World Cup could mark a new stage for sport on the archipelago.
