Cape Verde secures a historic spot for its first FIFA World Cup.

In a historic achievement for football, the small West African archipelago of Cape Verde has qualified for its first-ever FIFA World Cup. The tournament will take place in North America in 2026. The nation secured this remarkable feat on Monday by defeating Eswatini 3-0 in its final group match in the capital, Praia. This victory allowed Cape Verde to top Group D, finishing ahead of African powerhouse Cameroon.

The win came after a tense first half. Goals in the second half by Dailon Livramento, Willy Semedo, and veteran substitute Stopira broke the deadlock and sparked celebrations among the island's 600,000 residents, who were given the day off to support their team. The final result left Cape Verde with 23 points in the group stage, four ahead of Cameroon, who drew 0-0 with Angola.

This achievement marks an incredible rise for a nation that hardly played international football 25 years ago. Cape Verde is now the second-smallest country, after Iceland, to qualify for the World Cup finals. They join Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, and Ghana as African representatives for the 2026 tournament.

Coach Pedro Brito highlighted the importance of this moment beyond football, stating, "Giving this happiness to these people is enormous. It's a victory for all the Cape Verdean people and, above all, a victory for those who fought for our independence." This qualification comes nearly 50 years after Cape Verde gained independence from Portugal in 1975.

Following the victory, the streets of Praia turned into a huge party, with fans dancing to reggae and local funana music, honking car horns, and lighting fireworks. FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated Cape Verde on their "historic moment," pointing out that this achievement could inspire a new generation of football fans across the country.

The journey to qualification wasn’t easy. After drawing with Angola and losing to Cameroon earlier in the campaign, Cape Verde showed remarkable resilience by winning five straight matches to secure their World Cup spot. Team captain Ryan Mendes expressed his joy, saying, "Honestly, I don't have words to describe this moment. I'm very, very happy."

Having first attempted to qualify for the World Cup in 2002, Cape Verde's dream has come true more than twenty years later. This is an inspiring story for smaller footballing nations worldwide and a proud moment for this determined island nation.