Cape Verde football team eyes historic World Cup debut

The Cape Verde national football team, nicknamed the "Blue Sharks," spent a full day training on a grass field in Tróia, Portugal, as part of its preparations for the country's first ever appearance at a FIFA World Cup. The squad arrived early in the morning, completed warm‑up drills, and held a friendly match against Serbia before the tournament, marking a historic moment for the island nation.

Portugal midfielder Nelson Semedo told a press conference that the Portuguese side will "try to win everything" at the upcoming World Cup, praising the talent in the squad while emphasizing the need for focus and rotation. Semedo also highlighted the debut of Cape Verde, recalling his recent visit to see the Blue Sharks in Belém and expressing hope of meeting them again if the tournament leads to a final.

Both stories underline the growing excitement around the World Cup, with Cape Verde making history and Portugal aiming for top honours, while the preparations take place on Portuguese soil.