Cape Verde have qualified for the FIFA 2026 World Cup billed to be hosted in north America after they thrashed Eswatini 3-0 on Monday night.
They have become the second-smallest nation to reach the World Cup, with Iceland, who featured at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, being the only country with a smaller population.
The Blue Sharks missed their first chance to qualify last Wednesday against Libya when they drew 3-3, fighting back from two goals down before they were denied a stoppage-time winner.
But the Cape Verdeans made sure of their second opportunity in Praia against winless Eswatini.
Victory meant they secured top spot in their qualifying group and a place at the 2026 finals ahead of continental heavyweights Cameroon.
Cape Verde had reached the quarter-finals on debut in 2013 and again in 2023, and currently sit 70th in the world rankings.
They have emerged as the sixth African side to book a ticket to next year’s competition. They join Ghana, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria in the finals.
