A first trip to the World Cup
Roberto Lopes, left, and Garry Rodrigues of Cape Verde celebrate their side's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Eswatini in their FIFA World Cup 2026 African qualifying match between at Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde in Praia, Cape Verde.
Image: Al Jazeera
X users celebrated the qualification of Cape Verde into the 2026 World Cup for the first time in history
@EricNjiiru Cape Verde has qualified for their first Fifa World Cup becoming the second smallest nation to do so. Many beautiful children will be born 9 months from today. The world, meet Cape Verde as we know it.
@The_RedsIndo No Rolex. No NPD FA Chairman. No flex. No new coach in their journey. Cape Verde has make it to The World Cup 2026.
@osowxvyy Cape Verde made it to the World Cup. We’ll be seeing these type of Women in the stadiums.
@OkayAfrica Cape Verde is lit! Fans hit the streets to celebrate the Blue Sharks’ first-ever World Cup qualification.
@MenInBlazers Cape Verde, population 560 000, qualify for a first-ever world cup. They are the second-smallest nation ever to achieve that feat. Every US state has a bigger population, yet the Blue Sharks are on their way to football’s big dance.
@FranMar55262423 Absolutely beautiful. But let’s be honest, if they face any top team, they will get a beat down. Their starting 11 is old and barely play at a high level. Guess Fifa will get their $$$, which is all that matters at the end.
@UCFKnight_115 The Cape Verdeans in New England are probably going crazy.
@TouchlineX Cape Verde are coming to the biggest stage of them all. Congratulations!
@AmosSoma37877 From island vibes to global spotlight, Cape Verde just pulled off what many thought was impossible. That tiny nation with massive heart is walking straight into football history, no shortcuts, no noise – just pure grit. The passion, the rhythm, the pride, everything about this qualification screams destiny. The big boys better be ready, because these ones are not coming to watch, they’re coming to shake the table.
@Bigcharly10 Meanwhile, Nigeria still calculating goal difference, Imagine having Osimhen, Lookman, Boniface and still watching from home lol.
@0xTeewhy I think I have to break into my savings now, I must buy a ticket.
@obrien_jonathan There will indeed be far too many games in this WC, but Cape Verde v Uzbekistan would almost certainly be great fun, far more so than watching England scabbing their way past Slovakia, or whoever. Don’t forget the most enjoyable game at the last World Cup was Cameroon v Serbia.