Cape Verde defender Pico Lopes spoke about the team's 2026 World Cup campaign in an interview. The Ireland-born centre-back expressed pride in representing his nation against giants like Spain and Argentina.
How was the draw with Spain in the 2026 World Cup opener
Cape Verde held then-world number two Spain to a goalless draw in their opening group match. Pico Lopes said the team focused purely on playing their game, ignoring the reputation of their opponents. The defensive organisation and seven saves from goalkeeper Vozinha were key to the historic result.
The Argentina clash and the 111th-minute goal
In the next round, Cape Verde faced Lionel Messi's Argentina and lost 1-0, with the goal coming in the second period of extra time. Despite the elimination, Lopes insisted the team gave everything and believed they could win until the final whistle.
The unusual LinkedIn call-up
The defender revealed he was contacted for national team duty by coach Rui Águas via a LinkedIn message. The initial approach was in Portuguese, which Lopes ignored as he does not speak the language. A follow-up in English months later got his attention, and he went on to become a pillar of the squad.
How the campaign is shaping Cape Verde's football future
Pico Lopes believes the 2026 World Cup appearance will inspire a new generation of players in Cape Verde. He said every child in the nation will now dream of pulling on the national team shirt and representing the archipelago on the world stage.
The team finished the group stage with two draws and one win, advancing as runners-up in their group. The campaign was extensively covered by CNN Sports, which tracked the Blue Sharks from qualification through to their round of 32 exit. For updates on upcoming fixtures, visit our fixtures page, and see how the squad is evolving via our squad hub.
