World Cup 2026: How Cape Verde made history on their tournament debut

Much of the credit for Cape Verde’s performances must go to coach Bubista, a former international player who has been in charge since January 2020.

A stable coaching structure has allowed the 56-year-old former centre-back to assemble a compact and well-drilled team with an organized defence, technical midfielders and talented forwards who upset Ghana and drew with Egypt en route to the quarter-finals of the Afcon 2023; He only appeared in the tournament 10 years ago.

They may have had Vozinha to thank for the veteran goalkeeper’s seven saves in the goalless draw with Spain, but the Blue Sharks’ conceding just one foul against the 2010 champions further strengthened their discipline; this was the fewest fouls recorded by a team in a World Cup match since 1966.

“We always train and play as one team, so it wasn’t the first time we did everything we did in the game,” defender Sidny Lopes Cabral told the BBC World Service.

“For us, this is our game. This is how we play, this is who we are.

“That’s who we are as a team and as a defense.”

Cape Verde adopted a more aggressive and comprehensive approach in their second Group H match against Uruguay, but also showed their determination by grabbing an equalizer in the second half.

Bubista said, “What is more important than the result is to show our identity, strength, unity and also resilience as a team.” he said.

Bubista was recognized by the Confederation of African Football for his success in qualifying for the World Cup qualifiers by being named the continent’s coach of the year in 2025.

He always believed that his side had the potential to integrate with the world elite.

“We did really well considering how small our country is,” he told BBC Sport Africa ahead of the 2021 Afcon, where the Blue Sharks reached the last 16.

“I think we will be in the World Cup in the future.”

That bold prediction came true and now Bubista hopes Cape Verde’s successes in the expanded tournament can inspire other underdogs around the world.

“I believe football belongs to or is for everyone,” he said.