Cabo Verde, an African island nation of around 500,000 people, is creating an unexpected sensation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Making its first appearance in the World Cup finals, Cabo Verde drew 0-0 with European champion Spain in its opening match, then secured a 2-2 draw with Uruguay. Considered inferior in both population and player pool, the team has drawn the attention of the global football world by collecting points against powerhouses in successive matches.
Analysts say Cabo Verde's strong performance is not a mere upset but the result of a long-running "diaspora football" strategy.
The British outlet The Guardian recently described the Cabo Verdean community scattered abroad as the country's "11th island," analyzing that an overseas emigrant network larger than the domestic population has become the core foundation of the national team's competitiveness.
Cabo Verde is a country made up of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean west of Africa. Although it gained independence from Portugal in 1975, many of its people migrated to the United States and Europe due to drought, scarce natural resources and limited jobs. Over time, overseas immigrant communities became a talent pool for the national football team.
The football association focused from the early 2000s on recruiting Cabo Verdean players who grew up abroad into the national team. The work of scouting and persuading players, which began in Portugal, expanded to France and the Netherlands. In particular, Rotterdam in the Netherlands is an area densely populated by Cabo Verdean residents, and the current national team includes many players from there.
Players who grew up in European academies and professional leagues chose the country of their ancestors, equipped with technical skills and tactical experience. In fact, Cabo Verde's World Cup roster consists of players belonging to 25 clubs across 14 countries. There are six players born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, more than the four players born in the capital of Praia. The national team built its competitiveness by combining the experience of overseas players with the identity of local-born veterans.
The veterans from Cabo Verde serve as a focal point binding together players who grew up in different environments. Coach Pedro Leitão Brito is better known by the name "Bubista," and he has emphasized the use of Creole as a common language within the national team. The reasoning is that even if players grew up in different languages and cultures, within the national team they must share their identity as Cabo Verdeans.
Bubista also said, "Some players only spoke English, but now they have learned Creole," adding, "To protect the national team's identity, I don't allow them to use other languages."
Cabo Verde's growth is also confirmed in the FIFA rankings. Cabo Verde currently stands at No. 67 in the FIFA men's rankings (as of the 22nd), a significant rise in competitiveness compared with a time when it hovered around the 100th spot. Its highest-ever ranking is 27th.
