Blue sharks
Image Source: IANS
FIFA WC: Cape Verde Exit But Win Hearts With Historic Fairytale Run
FIFA World Cup Round: With a population of only half a million scattered across a small archipelago of only 4,000 square kilometres in land area, Cabo Verde’s achievement of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 itself represented a historic milestone.
Having only been made independent in 1975, the Cabo Verde national team’s journey began a few years later in 1978. In the decades since, as the teams and players involved have continued to gain experience, their ambition has only grown.
They created history by becoming the smallest nation ever to reach the FIFA World Cup Round of 32. The Blue Sharks finished the group stage perfectly, drawing three games in a row to finish second on three points, one ahead of two-time champions Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Their reward was a Round of 32 clash with Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Miami, where they showcased a performance for the ages to make the reigning champions dig deep for the triumph.
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