Cape Verde shocks the world at World Cup 2026
The tiny island nation becomes the smallest ever to reach the knockout stage after holding Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia to draws in Group H.
Cape Verde has made history by becoming the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup after a dramatic journey in Group H. The Cape Verde national team secured their place in the Round of 16 with a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia on December 2, 2026, capping a campaign that included hard-fought draws against Spain and Uruguay. Their 1-1 draw with Spain on November 25 and 1-1 draw with Uruguay on November 30 kept their hopes alive until the final matchday.
The results left them level on points with Uruguay but ahead on goal difference, sending them through as group runners-up. The team’s resilience in tight games has drawn global praise. Cape Verde entered the tournament ranked 54th in FIFA’s world , far behind Spain (3rd) and Uruguay (15th).
