One of the surprise stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is the historic qualification of Cape Verde, a small island nation making its first appearance ever on football’s biggest stage. 

Here are 10 key facts about the country:

Where Is Cape Verde?

  • Cape Verde is an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean. 

Officially called the Republic of Cabo Verde, the country lies around 570 kilometres west of Senegal, roughly midway between Africa and the Americas. 

  • The blue sharks are heading to the World Cup for the first time. 

Cape Verde topped their qualifying group ahead of Cameroon, Libya, Angola, Mauritius, and Eswatini, winning six of their eight matches.

A 3-0 victory over Eswatini secured their place at the World Cup, marking a remarkable achievement for one of Africa’s smallest nations. 

  • It has a population of just over 500,000.

With its small size, Cape Verde has become the third-smallest nation by population ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup, behind only Iceland and Curacao.

  • The name means ‘Green Cape.’ 

Cape Verde comes from the Portuguese term Cabo Verde, named after the nearby Cap-Vert peninsula in present-day Senegal. 

Why Are They Called The Blue Sharks?

  • They are nicknamed the Blue Sharks.

The national team is known as Tubaroes Azuis (Blue Sharks), inspired by the surrounding Atlantic Ocean. 

  • Portuguese is the official language. 

Government and education are conducted in Portuguese, while most residents speak Cape Verdean Creole, locally known as Kriolu. 

  • Cape. Verde once ranked 27th in the FIFA rankings. 

In February 2014, the blue sharks climbed up to 27th in the world after reaching the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations on their tournament debut. 

Why Cape Verde's World Cup Story Is So Special

  • A very diverse squad. 

Their squad is drawn from 25 clubs from 14 countries around the world, making them one of the most internationally diverse teams at the 2026 World Cup.

  • Ryan Mendes is both the most capped and the all-time leading scorer.

Captain of the Blue Sharks, Ryan Mendes, holds the records for most appearances as well as the most goals for the national team. 

  • They only played their first international match in 1978. 

Cape Verde became independent in 1975 and formed their national team shortly after. Their first match was against Guinea on 19 April 1978, a match which they lost 0-1. 

For many football fans, Cape Verde’s World Cup debut will provide a first glimpse into a nation whose influence on the game continues to grow far beyond its size.