Cape Verde shocked the world when they took Lionel Messi and defending champion Argentina to extra time in the 2026 World Cup round of 32. The match finished with a 3-2 Argentina victory on Friday, July 3 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, in what was essentially a home game for the soccer icon and South American side.
Vozinha continued to shine as the star of the African team and had several saves in the match, including key stops of Messi.
The Blue Sharks’ journey was marred by accusations of sexual assault against leading scorer Ryan Mendes.
Cape Verde was one of four teams making their World Cup debut. They captured the globe’s attention with their Cinderella story making it to the knockout rounds.
Here are some quick facts on Cape Verde:
Where is Cape Verde?
The Cape Verde Islands are located in the mid-Atlantic Ocean, about 300 miles from the west coast of Africa. Roughly 10 islands and five islets make up an archipelago divided into two groups: Barlavento (windward) and Sotavento (leeward).
The islands in the Barlavento group include Boa Vista, Sal, Santa Luzia, Santo Antão, São Nicolau and São Vicente. The islets Raso and Branco are also in the Barlavento group. The Sotavento group includes Maio, Santiago, Fogo and Brava.
What is Cape Verde’s population?
Cape Verde has a population of roughly 500,000 people.
What is Cape Verde’s history?
Cape Verde gained its independence from Portugal in 1975. It previously was a combined territory with Guinea-Bissau and attempted to remain united as a country. A coup in 1980 caused a permanent rift between the two.
In 1992, Cape Verde adopted its current constitution, establishing a president and a legislative body in a multi-party system.
In 2014, Pico do Fogo, a major volcano on the island nation, erupted, destroying two villages.
In 2026, the country’s men’s national team made it to its first World Cup and delighted the rest of the globe with its unlikely run to the knockout round.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Everything to know about Cape Verde, the tiny nation that pushed Argentina
