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🚨 BREAKING: First time ever! Minnows book spot at 2026 World Cup
Oct 13 2025 18:38 · By onefootball.com
· View Original
Cape Verde made history on Wednesday, becoming the second smallest country ever to reach the World Cup .
The Blue Sharks sealed their spot at the 2026 World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Libya. Dailon Livramento, Stopira and Willy Semedo scored the vital goals.
The win caps an impressive qualification campaign, where Cape Verde finished top of CAF qualifying Group D with just one defeat from nine games so far.
– Monday, 13 October 2025
They are currently ranked 70th in the FIFA rankings and only became an official football team in 1978.
The African side have gone from strength to strength in recent years, reaching quarter-finals at the 2013 and 2023 AFCON finals.
However, breaking into the world's elite to compete in the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026 is a new height for the nation with a population of just over 500,000.
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The only country to qualify with a smaller popular size are Iceland.
How far will the Blue Sharks progress at the World Cup finals next summer?
📸 DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO - AFP or licensors