Cape Verde (officially: Republic of Cabo Verde) is a tiny island nation consisting of 10 volcanic islands located in the Atlantic Ocean, about 570 km off the coast of West Africa. With a population of just over 524,000, the Cabo Verdean players have impressed the world by earning points in their first appearance at the biggest football tournament on the planet. The team, ranked 67th in the FIFA rankings, impressively held the world's second-ranked team, the reigning European champions, and one of the top contenders for this year's World Cup title, Spain, to a draw.
The 0-0 scoreline reflected a reality completely contrary to pre-match predictions. According to Opta simulations, Spain had an 87.2% chance of winning. But on the Atlanta pitch, those statistics were meaningless. Coach Luis de la Fuente's powerful team controlled nearly 75% of the ball possession and unleashed 27 shots, but were powerless against their opponent's tightly organized defense.
Cabo Verde (also known as Cap Verde) – this country was a Portuguese colony until it gained independence in 1975. With a population of just over half a million people, Cabo Verde is one of the smallest countries to have ever participated in the World Cup, second only to Iceland in the 2018 World Cup.
If we had to name the hero of the match, it would undoubtedly be veteran goalkeeper Vozinha. At 40 years old, he delivered a performance of a lifetime with a series of outstanding saves against Spanish strikers such as Ferran Torres, Pedri, and Laporte. After the final whistle, Vozinha was voted Man of the Match and couldn't hold back his tears as he watched the Cabo Verde flag fly high on the World Cup stage.
Not only did the African representatives defend tenaciously, but they also gave Spain several scares with their sharp counter-attacks. Even in the final minutes of the match, Diney Borges nearly scored a historic goal if not for a brilliant save by Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón.
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| The Cabo Verde players created a miracle . Photo: GOAL |
This draw is not simply about the points; it's proof of the appeal of the World Cup, where differences in population, resources, or FIFA rankings are sometimes erased by the willpower, solidarity, and ambition of smaller teams.
A point against Spain doesn't guarantee Cabo Verde a place in the next round in Group H, but the result was enough for them to etch their name into World Cup history. For football fans in this island nation, it's nothing short of a victory. And who knows, after that memorable night in Atlanta, Cabo Verde's miraculous journey might just be beginning.
Following the valiant performances of Asian representatives such as Japan, South Korea, and Australia against strong opponents, Cabo Verde's remarkable achievement continues to send the message that the gap between footballing nations is gradually narrowing. The 2026 World Cup is demonstrating that any team has the right to dream of a positive outcome if they know how to maximize their team spirit and determination.
Global fans are eagerly awaiting the next matches at the 2026 World Cup on the morning of June 17th (Vietnam time). Specifically, in Group I, France will face Senegal at 2 AM, before Iraq takes on Norway at 5 AM. In Group J, defending champions Argentina will play Algeria at 8 AM, while Austria meets Jordan at 11 AM.
Dang Trieu
Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-xa-hoi/the-thao/202606/fifa-world-cup-2026-ky-tich-cabo-verde-0e474cc/
