Cape Verde made history on Friday as the Blue Sharks held Saudi Arabia to a goalless draw and secured a place in the Round of 32 – becoming the smallest nation ever to reach the FIFA World Cup knockout stage.
The world Cup debutants will now face Lionel Messi and reigning champions Argentina in the knockout stage.
The island nation — the third smallest ever to play at a World Cup — finished second in Group H behind Spain after drawing all three group matches, results that included holds against European champions Spain and two-time world champions Uruguay.
The Blue Sharks result against Saudi Arabia, coupled with Spain’s victory over Uruguay, confirmed qualification for Bubista’s side, and the celebrations that followed told the story.
According to BBC Sport Africa, players gathered around a mobile phone on the pitch after the final whistle in Houston, watching the closing moments of Spain’s win over Uruguay before learning they had gone through. Tears followed both on the field and in the stands.
Cape Verde had chances to win the match themselves. Jamiro Monteiro came closest in the first half when he burst beyond Saud Abdulhamid but saw his low effort pushed behind by Mohammed Al-Owais.
Monteiro threatened again after the restart after being picked out by Wagner Pina, while Kevin Pina curled an effort narrowly wide. Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper then produced one of the saves of the game when Nuno da Costa released Laros Duarte through on goal.
Da Costa thought he had won it in the dying moments after good work from Garry Rodrigues on the right, only to send his effort wide.
The missed chances did not matter as Cape Verde became the first nation since Chile at France 1998 to progress from the group stage without winning a match.
The scale of the achievement becomes clear with one figure: Cape Verde has a population of around 525,000 people.
Much of Cape Verde’s success has been built on the country’s extensive diaspora network, particularly in Portugal and the Netherlands. Fourteen members of the 26-man World Cup squad were born outside the islands, including six players from Rotterdam alone.
The strategy has been part of a long-term project overseen by the Cape Verde Football Federation and coach Bubista, who has led the side since 2020. The former international defender has built a disciplined, organised team that combines defensive solidity with technical quality, a approach that previously helped Cape Verde reach the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
“There is an inner confidence in this team that we are good enough to mix with the best teams in the world,” defender Roberto Lopes told BBC Sport Africa.
Bubista has long believed his players could compete at the top. “We have done really well considering how small our country is,” he said ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. “I think in the future we’ll be at the World Cup.”
His words proved right. Cape Verde are not only at the World Cup, they are also in the knockout rounds. Their reward is a meeting with Argentina and Lionel Messi in Miami on July 3.
“Honestly, it’s mad. I feel like I’m in a dream,” said midfielder Deroy Duarte after being named player of the match against Saudi Arabia. “It’s against Argentina, isn’t it? A tough match, but let’s believe. Anything is possible.”
In a week’s time in Miami, Messi and Argentina will decide if the dream continues.
