Cape Verde at World Cup 2026 Match Guide: Cape Verde’s remarkable football journey reaches a new milestone in 2026, as the island nation prepares for its first-ever World Cup after becoming independent in 1975 and joining FIFA in 1986.
The Blue Sharks enjoyed an outstanding qualifying campaign, winning seven matches, drawing two, and losing just once in 10 outings. They scored 16 goals and conceded eight to secure automatic qualification.
Cape Verde’s World Cup 2026 match guide
The debutants face a challenging group stage, where every match will test their resilience, ambition, and growing reputation on the global stage.
Here is a complete guide to their World Cup fixtures and what awaits the Creoles on football’s biggest platform.
Cape Verde’s World Cup Group H opponents
According to FIFA, Cape Verde are drawn into Group H, as the Blue Sharks face a daunting test against Euro 2024 winners Spain, two-time world champions Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia.
In their four Africa Cup of Nations appearances, Bubista’s men have reached the knockout stage on three occasions, underlining their steady rise on the continental scene.
That proven ability to compete beyond the group phase offers hope that they could carry the same resilience and consistency onto the World Cup stage as they look to make their mark among the world’s elite.
Goalkeeper Vozinha has represented Cape Verde for 14 years 😮
He will be Africa’s oldest player at the 2026 World Cup.
40 years and 12 days old when they face Spain in their first match 👏 pic.twitter.com/2EW0wteBoS
— ESPN Africa (@ESPNAfrica) June 8, 2026
Cape Verde’s World Cup 2026 fixture schedule
Spain vs Cape Verde
Date: June 15, 2026
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA
Kick-off: 4:00 PM (Ghana time)
Uruguay vs Cape Verde
Date: June 21, 2026
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, USA
Kick-off: 10:00 PM (Ghana time)
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia
Date: June 27, 2026
Venue:NRG Stadium, Houston, USA
Kick-off: 12:00 AM (Ghana time)
Cape Verde🇨🇻, with a population of about 527,000, has become the second-smallest country ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. The island nation joins nine other African teams at the 2026 tournament, following in the footsteps of Togo as a former smallest qualifier.
-Sports… pic.twitter.com/4XReMzf8GZ
— AFRICA IS HOME GLOBAL (@AfricaisHOME2) June 10, 2026
Cape Verde’s previous World Cup appearances
None.
Cape Verde’s all-time World Cup stats
World Cup record:
- Matches played: 0
- Wins: 0
- Draws: 0
- Losses: 0
- Goals scored: 0
- Goals conceded: 0
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