Cape Verde Islands
CAF · Qualified directly
Cape Verde Islands 2026 Campaign Review
Cape Verde Islands entered the World Cup 2026 with a solid qualification campaign in the World Cup - Qualification Africa 2023/2025, finishing top of their group. They amassed 23 points from 10 matches, boasting a record of seven wins, two draws, and just a single loss. Their attack managed 16 goals while conceding 8, demonstrating a reliable balance. Notably, they kept seven clean sheets, with five of those coming at home, underscoring their defensive strength on familiar turf.
In the World Cup group stage, Cape Verde started cautiously with a goalless draw against Spain, securing a valuable point. Their form leading into the tournament was impressive, featuring a recent run of wins and draws that included a 3-0 victory over Eswatini and a thrilling 3-3 draw with Libya. This blend of resilience and attacking verve suggests a team capable of challenging expectations.
Looking ahead, Cape Verde will aim to build on this promising foundation as they prepare to face Uruguay. Their campaign to date has been a testament to steady progress, and with such a disciplined approach, they might just keep surprising a few more people yet.
Group H
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Spain | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +5 | 7 |
| 2 |  Cape Verde Islands | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 |  Uruguay | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
| 4 |  Saudi Arabia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -4 | 2 |
Qualifying campaign
Rank
1
Points
23
PPG (last 5)
2.60
Squad pedigree
1 of 14 squad players (7%) play club football in a top-5 European league.
Spotlight
League position
Position 33Points trajectory
Rank 33FIFA world ranking
#72
Manager
Pedro Leitao Brito
Season at a glance
Streaks
Last result
Cape Verde Islands' Form in World Cup 2026
Cape Verde Islands have shown a fairly consistent run in their World Cup 2026 campaign so far, with just one loss in ten qualifying matches during the World Cup - Qualification Africa 2023/2025. Their record of seven wins, two draws, and a single defeat indicates a team that rarely drops points, especially favouring wins over stalemates. Interestingly, their defence has been resolute at home with five clean sheets, while away form is a bit more porous with eight goals conceded.
In the tournament itself, they've started with a goalless draw, indicating a solid if unspectacular opening. The absence of a notable winning streak suggests their results come in measured steps rather than a flashy sprint. Overall, Cape Verde Islands seem to blend defensive discipline with enough attacking threat to keep their hopes alive in Group H, though they’ll need to sharpen their edge to climb the ranks.
Statistics
Home / Away splits
Week-by-week trends
team vs league avg (dashed)Cape Verde Islands: Home Comforts vs. Away Adventures
Cape Verde Islands have shown a clear contrast between their home and away performances in World Cup - Qualification Africa 2023/2025. At home, they’ve been fortress-like, winning four games without a single loss, scoring 6 goals and conceding none. Notably, they kept five clean sheets on their own turf, which is quite the defensive feat.
On the road, things get a bit trickier. They’ve still managed three wins and a draw but suffered their only loss away. Their attack seems livelier away from home, scoring 10 goals but at the cost of conceding 8, reflecting a riskier approach.
In sum, Cape Verde’s home form is solid and disciplined, while away matches tend to be more open affairs. Their ability to keep clean sheets at home could be a foundation for progressing, but tightening up defence on the road will be key in the World Cup 2026.
Fipster's Record with Cape Verde Islands
Fipster's model is still building a record on Cape Verde Islands this World Cup 2026 cycle, having graded just one fixture so far. Unfortunately, that outing didn't earn a star or tick, but hey, every expert has an off day—especially when breaking new ground.
As Cape Verde continues its debut campaign in the World Cup, this cautious start might turn into something more promising. The model's patience might be tested, but so far, it's early days for both the team and the predictions.
Squad
| # | Player | Pos | Club | League | Apps | G | A | Mins | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  VózinhaGoalkeeper | Goalkeeper | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12 |  Márcio RosaGoalkeeper | Goalkeeper | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23 |  C. dos SantosGoalkeeper | Goalkeeper |  San Diego |  Major League Soccer | 10 | 0 | 0 | 187 | 7.30 |
| 2 |  StopiraDefender | Defender |  Torreense |  Primeira Liga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 6.85 |
| 3 |  Diney BorgesDefender | Defender | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4 |  PicoDefender | Defender | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 |  Logan CostaDefender | Defender |  Villarreal |  La Liga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 6.90 |
| 8 |  João PauloDefender | Defender |  FCSB |  UEFA Champions League | — | — | — | — | — |
| 13 |  S. Lopes CabralDefender | Defender |  Benfica | Primeira Liga | 15 | 5 | 3 | 1324 | 7.29 |
| 22 |  S. MoreiraDefender | Defender |  Columbus Crew | Major League Soccer | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1136 | 6.62 |
| 24 |  Wagner PinaDefender | Defender |  Trabzonspor |  Süper Lig | 31 | 0 | 7 | 2444 | 6.96 |
| 25 |  Kelvin PiresDefender | Defender | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 |  Kevin PinaMidfielder | Midfielder | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 |  Jovane CabralMidfielder | Midfielder |  Estrela | Primeira Liga | 27 | 7 | 1 | 1679 | 7.10 |
| 10 |  Jamiro MonteiroMidfielder | Midfielder |  PEC Zwolle |  Eredivisie | 21 | 2 | 3 | 1276 | 7.01 |
| 11 |  Garry RodriguesMidfielder | Midfielder | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 |  Deroy DuarteMidfielder | Midfielder |  Ludogorets | UEFA Champions League | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 |  L. DuarteMidfielder | Midfielder | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 |  Yannick SemedoMidfielder | Midfielder | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 17 |  Willy SemedoMidfielder | Midfielder | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 18 |  Telmo ArcanjoMidfielder | Midfielder |  Guimaraes | Primeira Liga | 32 | 1 | 0 | 1258 | 6.85 |
| 20 |  Ryan MendesMidfielder | Midfielder | — | — | 4 | 0 | 0 | 273 | 6.58 |
| 26 |  Hélio VarelaMidfielder | Midfielder |  Maccabi Tel Aviv | UEFA Champions League | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9 |  Gilson BenchimolAttacker | Attacker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 19 |  D. LivramentoAttacker | Attacker |  Casa Pia | Primeira Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 21 |  Nuno da CostaAttacker | Attacker |  Başakşehir | Süper Lig | 26 | 3 | 1 | 930 | 6.65 |
