Cape Verde’s amazing run at their first World Cup is still ongoing. Following a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia in its group stage on Friday, the island nation off Africa’s west coast became the least-populated nation ever to advance to the knockout rounds of a men’s World Cup.
By holding pre-tournament favorite Spain to a goalless draw in their first match, the tournament newcomers surprised one of the World Cup’s biggest upsets. They followed that with a 2-2 tie with Uruguay, when they scored their first World Cup goals ever.
Saturday’s loss to Spain dashed Uruguay’s hopes of moving on to the group stage along with Saudi Arabia.
For Cape Verde, defending champions Argentina await in a Round of 32 match in Miami Gardens, Florida, on July 3, and the obstacles will only grow more difficult.
With about 525,000 residents, Cape Verde boasts less than every U.S. state. The least populated state, Wyoming, boasts about 576,000 citizens.
Cape Verde has already surpassed the only other smaller countries in population to have qualified for the men’s World Cup.
In their only tournament participation, Curaçao and Iceland both failed in the group stage in 2026 and 2018, respectively.
They also hold the first World Cup debutant record of going unbeaten in all three group-stage games since Senegal accomplished it in 2002.
