Cape Verde make history with first-ever World Cup qualification

Cape Verde will play their first World Cup in 2026: the smallest country since Iceland

The archipelago of ten islands, with half a million inhabitants crammed into 4,000 square kilometres, achieved what seemed impossible: beating Eswatini and sealing their ticket to the World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The news hit the football world like an earthquake, not so much for the sporting antiestéticat – though there is one – but because Cape Verde becomes the second smallest country in history to qualify, behind only Iceland.

The debate over FIFA's expansion

The milestone reopens the old controversy over expanding the World Cup to 48 teams. Critics argue that the tournament has been "watered down", that any team can sneak in without the standard of old. "Too many teams, too many bland matches," they say. On the other side, defenders of the expansion point out that, despite the easier path, only three new countries have qualified so far – Cape Verde, Panama and Iceland – suggesting that meritocracy still prevails.

The statistic that surprises

With the format expanded to 48 spots, an avalanche of debutants was expected. The reality is stubborn: three in total. While purists rail against FIFA for "giving away" places, the numbers show that football remains an elite sport, even with the door wider open. Cape Verde, with its half a million souls, has made more than a few sweat. And for a country that would fit twice inside the Community of Madrid, that is no small antiestéticat.