Cape Verde pulls off a rare achievement, joining just three other countries to move forward in the World Cup.
Cape Verde has made it to the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup after finishing second in their group with three draws. Their 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia in their last game sealed their spot in the round of 32, marking their first-ever World Cup appearance.
The team had to wait anxiously for the results of the Spain vs. Uruguay match. When news came in that Spain won 1-0 against the two-time world champions, Cape Verde’s players and fans erupted in joyful celebration, knowing they had qualified. Their next challenge will be a tough one against the current World Cup champions, Argentina.
Fans will probably celebrate late into the night. By drawing all three of their group games, Cape Verde joined a special group of teams who did the same in their first World Cup: Wales (1958), Cameroon (1982), and the Republic of Ireland (1990), according to Opta Stats. Among these, only Cameroon didn’t make it to the knockout rounds.
Cape Verde’s progress means they’re the first debut team to reach this stage since Slovakia did in 2010. They also became the first team new to the World Cup to go unbeaten in the group stage since Senegal in 2002.
No one expected Cape Verde to get past a group with teams that have won the World Cup multiple times—Spain once and Uruguay twice. Many now think Argentina will beat Cape Verde in the next round. But after their strong performance so far, the current champions will know it won’t be an easy match, as Cape Verde already held Spain and Uruguay to draws.