1
WC Appearances
including 2026
Debut
Best Result
all-time
None
Titles
yet to win
#60
FIFA Ranking
April 2026 (approx.)
About Cape Verde
Cape Verde make their historic debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, representing one of the most remarkable qualification stories of the entire tournament. The Blue Sharks, a tiny Atlantic archipelago nation of just 560,000 people, have punched far above their weight in African football for over a decade. Coach Pedro Leitão leads a squad built from dual-nationals with Portuguese heritage playing across European leagues, including the tricky Ryan Mendes and the experienced Garry Rodrigues. Group H against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia is enormously challenging, but Cape Verde's spirit and organisation have toppled bigger nations before - their debut marks a proud moment for African football.
Team Base Camp
🇺🇸 USA
Base camp
Tampa, Florida
Tubarões Azuis make their World Cup debut and base at the Waters Sportsplex in Tampa. Gulf Coast climate is the closest US match to Cape Verde's Atlantic-island summer.
Per FIFA regulations (§18.3), Cape Verde stays at this base camp for the entire group stage and travels to each match venue one day before kickoff (and returns the same night or the next day).
Distance to each group-stage match
Straight-line distance from Tampa to each match stadium. Actual travel adds airport time on flights.
Key Players
Vozinha
Steven Moreira
Telmo Arcanjo
Garry Rodrigues
Fabio Domingos
Head Coach
Pedro Leitão
2026 Group
Group H
Cape Verde at the 2026 World Cup
All times shown are local to the stadium
World Cup History
🌟
First-time participant
2026 will be Cape Verde's debut on the World Cup stage.
Cape Verde World Cup 2026 FAQ
What group is Cape Verde in for the 2026 World Cup?+
Cape Verde is in Group H of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia.
Who is the manager of Cape Verde at the 2026 World Cup?+
Pedro Leitão manages Cape Verde at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
What is Cape Verde's FIFA ranking?+
Cape Verde is ranked #60 in the FIFA World Rankings heading into the 2026 World Cup.
How many World Cups has Cape Verde played in?+
Cape Verde has appeared in 1 FIFA World Cups including 2026. Their best result is Debut.
When does Cape Verde play in the 2026 World Cup?+
Cape Verde's 2026 World Cup group stage matches: June 15 vs Spain; June 21 vs Uruguay; June 26 vs Saudi Arabia. Knockout matches are determined by group stage results.
Who are Cape Verde's key players for the 2026 World Cup?+
Key players to watch for Cape Verde include Vozinha, Steven Moreira, Telmo Arcanjo, Garry Rodrigues, Fabio Domingos.
Where is Cape Verde's base camp for the 2026 World Cup?+
Cape Verde will be based in Tampa, Florida (USA), training at Waters Sportsplex. Per FIFA regulations, the team stays at this base camp throughout the group stage and travels to match venues one day before each game.