Population 500,000, three draws, no defeats: Cape Verde reach the last 32 on debut — next up, Argentina

A goalless draw, and history

The moment referee blew for full time on a 0-0 with Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde — an archipelago nation of roughly 500,000 people, ranked 47th of the 48 World Cup teams by population — had reached the knockout rounds in their first appearance at the tournament. They finished second in Group H behind Spain, unbeaten across three matches: 0-0 with Spain, 2-2 with Uruguay, 0-0 with Saudi Arabia. Three draws, three points, and not a single loss against a group that contained two former world champions.

The Blue Sharks and the men who held the line

The team is nicknamed the Tubarões Azuis, the Blue Sharks, and much of their squad earns a living in Portugal and across Europe. They are coached by Pedro Brito, known as Bubista, a former Cape Verde international who has run the side since 2020 and led it to this debut. Two players defined the group stage. Vozinha — Josimar Dias, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who only turned professional at 25 — made seven saves to keep Spain out in the opening match. Captain Ryan Mendes, the 36-year-old winger who is Cape Verde's all-time leader in caps (94) and goals (22), gave the attack its pace, with midfielder Jamiro Monteiro doing the work in between. Cape Verde are a rising side in Africa, having reached the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals in 2013 and 2023; much of the squad has Portuguese-diaspora roots and came up at clubs in Lisbon and across Europe.

The night they stunned Uruguay

The draw with Uruguay was the wildest of the three. Kevin Pina curled in a free kick in the 21st minute — Cape Verde's first goal at any World Cup — that beat the wall and a stunned Fernando Muslera. Uruguay, two-time champions, turned it around before half-time through Maxi Araújo and Agustín Canobbio. But Cape Verde did not fold. Bubista switched from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 at the break, sent on Hélio Varela, and Varela levelled it at 2-2 in the 61st minute. Uruguay, who never won a match, were then eliminated when Spain beat them on the final day — the same result that sent Cape Verde through to face Argentina.

What the 48-team format was supposed to do

When FIFA expanded the World Cup to 48 teams, the case for it was that more nations who never get this far would get a real stage. Cape Verde is that argument made flesh: a country smaller than many cities, at its first World Cup, now in the last 32 having gone unbeaten past Spain and Uruguay. Saudi Arabia and Uruguay are out; the island side is still in.

Next: Argentina, in Miami

Cape Verde's reward is the hardest possible draw. Their next opponent is Argentina, the reigning world champions, with Lionel Messi. Cape Verde have conceded only twice in three games; Vozinha's goalkeeping and a counter-attack that took its few chances kept Spain and Uruguay at bay. The two meet on July 3 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.