Cape Verde were welcomed as heroes despite their World Cup elimination by Argentina

The Cape Verde national team, despite being eliminated by Argentina 3-2 in their first World Cup appearance in 2026, was greeted with enthusiasm by thousands of fans in the capital Praia. The team was honored with celebrations held on the country's independence day.

Scraper SystemJuly 05, 2026, 10:07 PM

Cape Verde were welcomed as heroes despite their World Cup elimination by Argentina

The Cape Verde national team, despite bidding farewell to the tournament after a 3-2 loss to Argentina in their first World Cup appearance in 2026, was welcomed as heroes in the capital Praia. The team, nicknamed the 'Blue Sharks', was greeted by thousands of fans with banners and enthusiasm at the airport upon their return to the country on Sunday.

The team held on until the dying minutes of extra time against defending champions Argentina in the round of 32 match in Miami, but were eliminated 3-2. Many football pundits described the result as one of the tournament's most surprising moments.

Festive Atmosphere in the Capital

From the crowd at the airport, 28-year-old fan Edmilson Correia told the French news agency AFP, 'After the heroes who fought for our independence, now we have these heroes, the Blue Sharks.' The team's coach Pedro Leitão Brito, known as 'Bubista', told reporters, 'We proved that our participation in the World Cup was no coincidence. We showed determination and resilience, and we left the United States with our heads held high.'

Fans in blue jerseys competed with each other to see stars like Sidney Lopes Cabral, who drew attention with his goal against Argentina, and goalkeeper Vozinha. 12-year-old Ivan Gonçalves said, 'I was especially looking for Cabral because he scored a magnificent goal against Argentina.'

Praise from the Ministry

Minister of Culture and Sports António Duarte praised the Blue Sharks and their coach for 'positioning Cape Verde as a great country.' Even though the team lost to Argentina, the side Lionel Messi plays for, celebrations in the capital had started early on Saturday morning.

Cape Verde, with a population of only 500,000, also celebrated the 51st anniversary of its independence from Portugal on Sunday. The country gained independence in 1975 after 500 years of Portuguese rule. The national team's success further bolstered national pride on this special day.

Cape Verde were welcomed as heroes despite their World Cup elimination by Argentina