ESP 16%
FRA 12%
ARG 12%
BRA 11%
ENG 10%
Tournament outlook
As of July 20, 2026, Cape Verde have a 0.1% market-implied probability of winning the 2026 World Cup (+99900), the 42nd-best odds of any team, based on live model estimates.
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.
Key players
Ryan Isaac Mendes da Graça is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a winger for TFF 1.
Jovane Eduardo Borges Cabral is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a winger for Primeira Liga club Estrela da Amadora and the Cape Verde national team.
Roberto Carlos Lopes, also known as Pico, is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for 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.
