Cabo Verde’s Football Team Came Home To A Hero’s Welcome After A Stunning Run At The World Cup
Fans lined the streets waving flags and beating drums as the squad rode through Praia on an open-top bus to Quebra Canela Beach.
Cabo Verde's national football team came home to a hero's welcome after returning from the 2026 World Cup following a fierce match against Argentina in the knockout round.
Cabo Verde made history as the smallest country by land area and the second-smallest by population, with about 530,000 people, to ever qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 2026.
At the tournament, held across the US, Canada and Mexico, Cabo Verde was grouped with Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, two of which are former world champions.
Cabo Verde drew 0-0 with Spain in its opening match after its 40-year-old goalkeeper Josimar José Évora Dias, known as Vozinha, managed to block seven shots and was named the man of the match.
Cabo Verde then drew 2-2 with Uruguay, scoring its first-ever World Cup goals, before drawing 0-0 with Saudi Arabia, sending the team through to the knockout round of 32 unbeaten, the smallest nation by population ever to reach the World Cup knockout stage.
On Friday, July 3, Cabo Verde faced Argentina, the defending champions, and took the game to extra time in a hard fought match where they managed to draw with Argentina at 2-2, before an own goal in the 111th minute gave Argentina a 3-2 win.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said afterward that his team had expected an easy match and instead struggled throughout.
Cabo Verde’s team returned home on Sunday, July 5, after the Argentina match and were welcomed like heroes, with thousands of fans waiting at the capital Praia’s airport, with flags, chants, music and a parade through the capital.
An airport worker was filmed bowing to the players.
The celebration was especially festive because July 5 is also Cabo Verde’s Independence Day, marking 51 years since the country broke from Portuguese rule.
Fans lined the streets waving flags and beating drums as the squad rode through Praia on an open-top bus to Quebra Canela Beach, where a sign reading "Thank you! Cabo Verde" greeted them on stage.
Coach Pedro "Bubista" Brito, a former Cabo Verde international who has led the team since 2020, said the players had shown the world the country's identity.
Defender Pico Lopes said the tournament meant people no longer had to ask where Cabo Verde is.
Cici Xiao
Sofia Hou
