Cape Verde defender Pico Lopes says his country’s historic FIFA World Cup debut has shown that small nations can compete on the biggest stage, despite the team’s 3-2 extra-time defeat to defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32.
According to The Punch on Saturday, July 4, 2026, the Blue Sharks, representing an archipelago of about 500,000 people, remained unbeaten in regulation time throughout their maiden World Cup campaign.
“What we achieved, we wanted to show what was possible for small nations. With big hearts, that you can believe, and dream anything is possible,” Lopes, who was recruited to the national team after being discovered on LinkedIn, told reporters. He added that he hopes the team’s success inspires young Cape Verdeans.
Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha said qualifying for the tournament fulfilled a long-held dream for the nation, while his social media following reportedly grew from 50,000 to more than 19 million during the competition.
Lopes said the team’s greatest achievement was raising Cape Verde’s global profile. “Nobody has to ask what Cape Verde is anymore. They know where we are on the map. They know what we’re like as a team,” he said.
