Cape Verde erupts in celebration after first World Cup qualification

PRAIA, Cape Verde: A carnival-like atmosphere erupted in the streets of Cape Verde’s capital Praia recently after the tiny archipelago nation qualified for the World Cup for the first time.
Honking horns and street fireworks greeted euphoric fans pouring out of the Cape Verde National Stadium following the 3-0 victory over Eswatini, which secured the Blue Sharks a place in the 2026 finals, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In the street, people danced to the sound of reggae tunes and local funana music.

HISTORY

For the first time ever Cape Verde has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making them the second smallest country to ever qualify pic.twitter.com/C2NX8Zplsn

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 13, 2025

It was “an incredible moment,” 37-year-old fan Jorge Junior Livramento told AFP near the stadium.
“I don’t have words. I was at the stadium and I supported our team unconditionally,” he said.
Congratulating Cape Verde on their “historic moment,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the achievement was likely to “power a new generation of football lovers” across the nation.
Cape Verde, located off the coast of Senegal, is the country with the smallest population to represent Africa in the global showpiece, with just 550,000 inhabitants.
It becomes the second-least populous nation to reach the World Cup, after Iceland, with just over 350,000, at Russia 2018.

- ‘Victory for all’ -

“I shouted a lot during the match and now my voice is bad, but I am happy,” Praia resident Jose Vieira told AFP after the victory, which he watched live in the stadium.
The celebrations were expected to continue into the night with a concert at Praia’s municipal stadium featuring local artists such as Djodje and