Cabo Verde to face Argentina in 2026 World Cup group stage

Cabo Verde, an Atlantic archipelago of ten volcanic islands with a population of just over 500,000, will make its debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team, nicknamed the “Blue Sharks,” is scheduled to play its first group‑stage match against defending champions Argentina on 4 July.

The nation qualified for the tournament after a decade of youth development and the presence of many diaspora‑born players; fourteen of the 26‑man squad were raised abroad in the Netherlands, Portugal, France, Ireland and the United States. Coached by Pedro Leitão Brito, the side will look to capitalize on its historic qualification, while Argentina will seek to reaffirm its status as a tournament favourite.

Cabo Verde’s participation highlights the country's rapid rise in football, its stable democratic governance since independence from Portugal in 1975, and the role of a large overseas community—estimated at 1.5 million—in supporting the national team.