Cape Verde defeats Serbia 3-0 in pre‑World Cup friendly

Cape Verde's national football team beat Serbia 3‑0 in a friendly match played in Lisbon, Portugal, on 31 May 2026. The side, featuring FCSB midfielder João Paulo for the final 15 minutes, opened the scoring early and added goals before half‑time and in the second half. Reports cite goals by Lenini (11′), Duarte (59′) and Benchimol (63′), while other accounts mention contributions from Kevin Pina and Gilson Tavares.

The victory comes as Cape Verde prepares for its first World Cup appearance, where it will compete in a group with Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, debuting on 15 June against Spain. The team will also face Bermuda in a further friendly in the United States before the tournament.

João Paulo is one of two Romanian SuperLiga players selected for the World Cup, highlighting the growing influence of the Cape Verde squad ahead of the competition.