Pico Lopes Leads Cape Verde to Historic First-Ever World Cup 2026 Qualification

Cape Verde has achieved a historic milestone by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. This makes them debutants in the prestigious tournament after a convincing victory over Eswatini.

Pico Lopes Leads Cape Verde to World Cup Qualification

The match took place in Praia, where Cape Verde triumphed 3-0. This victory secured their position at the top of Group D during the African qualifiers.

Historic Achievement for Cape Verde

With a population of nearly 525,000, Cape Verde becomes the second-smallest nation by population to qualify for a men’s World Cup. Iceland previously held this record when they participated in 2018.

Match Details

• Location: Praia, Cape Verde
• Match Result: Cape Verde 3 – 0 Eswatini
• Goalscorers:
  • Dailon Rocha Livramento – 48th minute
  • Willy Semedo – 54th minute
  • Stopira – stoppage time

The Blue Sharks displayed resilience after a cautious first half. The second half witnessed a flurry of goals that sealed their fate in the qualifiers.

Cambodia’s Challenge

Cameroon, previously a contender for the top spot, needed to defeat Angola to challenge Cape Verde for qualification. However, their match ended in a 0-0 draw, leaving them in search of a playoff opportunity.

Player Highlights

Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes, a center-back for Shamrock Rovers, played a pivotal role in the defense, starting the match and helping maintain a clean sheet. His contributions were essential to Cape Verde’s success.

As they prepare for the World Cup, Cape Verde is set to make history and showcase their talent on the global stage. This qualification serves as a testament to their growth in international football.