Cape Verde coach Pedro Brito during the pre-match walkaround at Miami Stadium - Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, US on June 20, 2026.
After their surprise 0-0 draw with tournament favourites Spain, debutants Cape Verde now want more.
The Atlantic Ocean Islanders meet two-time champions Uruguay at Miami on Monday morning in a fight for Group “H” leadership.
"We have not just come to participate but to compete," Cape Verde coach Pedro Leita Brito said on Saturday in Miami.
"We have wonderful players. We have been saying our aim is to be in the right mentality to compete.
"We want to try and do the impossible. We want to get things done in all three matches and meet our objectives of qualifying for the second round," said the 2025 CAF Coach of the Year, popularly known as “Bubista”.
What a statement from the coach of a team that is making its first appearance at the World Cup.
The number 63 ranked Cape Verde captured more world fame on June 15 in Atlanta when they kept the European champions, featuring Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres, scoreless the entire match.
Cape Verde's Vozinha with teammates during the pre-match walkaround at Miami Stadium - Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, US on June 20, 2026
“Everybody struggles to defend against Spain. They have such good ball possession and quality players. They can break down any team. We defended well. We could have done more,” Bubista, 56, patted his team on the back.
The tiny island nation, which kept six clean sheets during the qualifiers, became a favourite of the crowd at Atlanta Stadium for their fearless and disciplined exhibition against one of the world’s best teams. Spain won the World Cup in 2010.
Bubista, appointed to the top seat in 2020, appreciated the support of the American crowd and hoped they would continue to cheer on the Blue Sharks.
“We are a small country, but we received a lot of support from the fans.”
Cape Verde, little heard of in world football until recently, are now looking to become only the seventh African nation to advance to the knock-out phase of the World Cup.
Morocco were the first in 1986, followed by Cameroon in 1990, then Nigeria in 1994 before Senegal in 2002, Ghana in 2006 and Algeria in 2014.
Africa is represented by 10 nations at this year’s World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Cape Verde coach Bubista gestures as he oversees training in Tampa, Florida, US on June 20, 2026.
Morocco, semi-finalists in 2022, were the first African nation to secure passage to the round of 32 in this edition, with a final group match to play.
The top two in each of the 12 groups advance to the second round, together with the eight best third-placed teams.
The Blue Sharks picked up sail from their tussle with Spain and can now dream of more history.
Cape Verde are the third smallest country by population to play at the World Cup.
“The mood in the camp is good. If we continue to play like this, we can compete in every game,” Bubista said.
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