Cape Verde qualified for its maiden FIFA World Cup after it beat Eswatini 3-0 in their qualifier on Monday, also becoming the second-smallest nation ever to reach the finals of the quadrennial event.
Dailon Livramento, Willy Semedo and Stopira scored to guide their nation to the showpiece event that will be held next year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Cape Verde tops Group D with 23 points in 10 matches. It has won seven, drawn two, and lost just once.
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It could have secured qualification with a win over Libya in its last match, but a 3-3 draw meant that it had to beat Eswatini to confirm its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Livramento opened the scoring for the Blue Sharks in the 48th minute, with Semedo grabbing their second six minutes later. Stopira, who came on in the 86th minute, scored Cape Verde’s third in added time of the second-half.
Published on Oct 13, 2025
