FRA 16.5%
ESP 16%
ENG 11.5%
POR 9.4%
ARG 8.9%
Tournament outlook
Cape Verde, an island nation of half a million, reached their first World Cup against all odds. Drawn with Spain, they will play with nothing to lose.
Managed by Bubista, Cape Verde head into the 2026 World Cup in Group H, where they face Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay. With a FIFA ranking of #69, expectations are calibrated accordingly, but tournament football has a way of rewriting the script.
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Key players
RM
Ryan Mendes
RW · free agent
JC
Jovane Cabral
FW · Estoril
R'
Roberto 'Pico' Lopes
CB · Shamrock Rovers
Strengths & weaknesses
▲ Strengths
- Underdog spirit
- Technical wide players
- Cohesion
▼ Weaknesses
- Smallest nation depth
- Inexperience at this level
How far can Cape Verde go?
Cape Verde will treat the group stage as their proving ground. An upset over a higher-ranked side would make their tournament a success. Follow our matchup previews and live odds throughout the group stage to track their progress.
