Made up of ten volcanic islands scattered across the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Verde is home to just over 525,000 people according to the latest World Bank figures. The country gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and has spent decades dreaming of a moment like this.

The goals came in style. Dailon Livramento opened the scoring, Willy Semedo added a second, and the experienced Stopira finished the job in stoppage time. When the final whistle blew, the celebration swept across the islands. The players danced with flags, fans filled the streets, and a small nation felt like the centre of the football world.

Cape Verde now stand as the second smallest country ever to reach a World Cup. Only Iceland, with around 340,000 people, achieved the feat first when they qualified for the 2018 tournament in Russia.

For the Blue Sharks, as the national team is affectionately known, this is more than a sporting triumph. It is a story of pride, persistence, and belief. When the 2026 World Cup kicks off in North America, Cape Verde will step onto the biggest stage in football ready to show the world that size means nothing when the dream is this big.

Picture from: Getty Images