Cape Verde defender Pico Lopes says team earned World Cup spot

Cape Verde qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the second‑smallest nation by land area ever to reach the tournament and entering ranked 67th worldwide. Central defender Pico Lopes, an Irish‑born player recruited via LinkedIn by coach Rui Águas, highlighted the team’s belief that they deserved to be there.

The Blue Sharks opened with a 0‑0 draw against world No. 2 Spain, finished second in their group, and then faced Argentina in the round of 32, losing in extra time after a goal in the 111th minute. Lopes credited the squad’s focus on the game rather than the opponent’s stature, and his own recruitment story – a LinkedIn message first sent in Portuguese and later in English – went viral during the tournament.