Cape Verde

Cape Verde, with its capital in Praia and a population of 600,000, is known for volcanic islands, music legend Cesária Évora, and Atlantic wind. Cape Verde's 10 volcanic islands in the Atlantic were uninhabited until Portuguese explorers arrived in the 15th century — the music genre morna, made famous by Cesária Évora, is UNESCO-protected.

In football, the Blue Sharks are making their World Cup debut in 2026. They enter their first-ever World Cup with Garry Rodrigues as their talisman under head coach Pedro Brito. Cape Verde will be the smallest African nation by population to ever appear at a World Cup, qualifying from one of CAF's toughest groups.

SeatNav's Power Index rates Cape Verde at 2.3 out of 10, ranking them #42 overall and classifying them as a determined underdog. In Group G, they face Spain, Colombia, Uzbekistan in what has been categorized as a moderately challenging group (difficulty 5/10).

As World Cup debutants, Cape Verde bring a fresh and unpredictable energy to the tournament. Their matches could be among the most compelling narratives of 2026 — football fans looking for underdog stories should keep a close eye on the Blue Sharks. Follow SeatNav for ticket updates as the tournament approaches.