World Cup Story Feed
World Cup Story Feed
On June 15, Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha had 50,000 followers on Instagram. Ten days later, 14 million.
On June 15, Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha had 50,000 followers on Instagram. Ten days later, 14 million.
A 280-fold increase. The 40-year-old veteran goalkeeper signed no agency, filmed no documentary. He simply made seven saves against Spain's 27 shots in the first group stage match. The Spaniards had 74% possession, nine corner kicks to zero, and an expected goals of 2.10. The scoreboard read 0-0.
The same week, the Cape Verdean government announced two things. At 1:00 PM on June 15, the entire civil service system shut down, leaving the rest of the day to the screens. According to Portugal's Record, the government also decided to grant pensions to former national team players.
In ten days, the goalkeeper gained 14 million followers. Old men who had worn the national team jersey decades ago and had long been forgotten could finally receive a monthly check.
This country's population is 529,672. Not enough to fill a Bernabéu.
In their opener against Atalanta, Cape Verde's defense stacked the shot count to 6-27, with shots on target 1-7. The Spaniards made 2,500 passes. Vozinha—born Josimar Dias—stood on the goal line for 90 minutes. Seven saves, three dives, three high claims. A clean sheet.
After the match, he cried. The images were replayed over and over by BBC and Al Jazeera. From independence from Portugal in 1975 to their first World Cup in 2026, precisely half a century.
In Miami, they faced two-time World Cup champions Uruguay. No one expected Cape Verde to attack. In the 21st minute, Kevin Pina curled a direct free kick into the net. Cape Verde's first ever World Cup goal.
Uruguay then came back. In the 61st minute, Hélio Varela came off the bench. 136 seconds later, he scored on a poacher's equalizer.
136 seconds. No coaching manual writes such a script. Small nations have no margin for error; every substitution is a gamble. Varela turned the bet around in two minutes. 2-2.
Moving on to Houston against Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde dropped their aggressive approach. They retreated into a 4-1-2-3 formation, gave up possession, and clogged the space. A dull 0-0 for 90 minutes.
Three points. Second in the group. Round of 16.
Group H's final ledger was clear: Spain beat Uruguay to top the group. Cape Verde drew all three matches for three points. Uruguay were eliminated from the group stage for the second consecutive time. The Spaniards sent Uruguay home, while politely handing Cape Verde a ticket to the knockout rounds.
Advancing from the group stage with three draws. Only once before in World Cup history had this happened: Ireland in 1990. Three draws: 1-1 against England, 1-1 against Egypt, 1-1 against Netherlands. They advanced on goal difference and then beat Romania on penalties to reach the quarterfinals. 36 years later, Cape Verde became the second.
Head coach Bubista said in an interview with L'Équipe, "We refuse to be mere extras." The cliché came from his mouth, backed by the authority of their Africa Zone qualifying Group D record of seven wins, two draws, and one loss. Bubista, born Pedro Leitão Brito, was Cape Verde's captain and center-back in his playing days. He coached the team through ten qualifiers, earning 23 points, topping the group with a direct qualification, four points clear of second place.
A team that dared to top the group in Africa from the qualifiers managed to grind out three draws in the main tournament. Two clean sheets, and one match where they scored two goals against the champions. Every step was calculated.
Along with the follower count, the president's schedule expanded.
Before the first match, President José Maria Neves's itinerary covered three U.S. cities: New Bedford (Massachusetts), Atlanta, and Brockton. All three are hubs of the Cape Verdean diaspora. CBS Atlanta reported he was accompanied by business leaders and diaspora representatives. NPR's report was more direct: the Cape Verdean government is using the World Cup window to attract investment to the U.S.
Neves walked straight into the locker room after the match to take photos with the players. He said something in Creole, which Portugal's Record translated roughly as: The entire nation is redefining itself.
The president of an island nation of 520,000 people doesn't need diplomatic niceties. Behind him stand the diaspora driving taxis in Boston, washing dishes in Lisbon, and hauling cargo at Rotterdam docks. Remittances keep the island afloat, and football is the archipelago's hardest international calling card.
In Dublin, there's a bank clerk named Roberto Lopes. Seven years ago, the Cape Verde national team coach sent him a cold email via LinkedIn, asking if he would be willing to play for a country he had never lived in. He said yes. Now he's part of Cape Verde's World Cup squad.
Small nations have no academies; they have to fish for talent over the wire. Sending DMs on LinkedIn, creating gods on Instagram, milking sympathy on FIFA+. That's Cape Verde's scouting system.
Veteran Ryan Mendes is also on this team. Born in 1990, 36 years old, currently playing for Turkey's Igdir FK—a club you've likely never heard of. But he has worn the Cape Verde shirt for 97 matches and scored 22 goals. He is the all-time leader in both appearances and goals.
Next up: facing Messi and defending champions Argentina.
529,672. Meanwhile, over 47 million on the other side.
Approximately 1 to 89.