Cape Verde announced its 26-player squad for FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday, May 18, 2026. Head coach Pedro Leitão Brito, known as Bubista, named Ryan Mendes as captain for the Blue Sharks’ historic World Cup debut. The 36-year-old striker is Cape Verde’s all-time leader in both caps (94) and goals (22). Defender Logan Costa was included despite returning from a long-term ACL injury.
This is the first World Cup in Cape Verde’s history. With a population of around 525,000, Cape Verde becomes the third-smallest country ever to compete at a World Cup, after fellow 2026 debutants Curaçao (156,115) and Iceland (352,000 at the 2018 tournament). Most of Bubista’s squad is drawn from the country’s large European diaspora. Cape Verde opens Group H against Spain on June 15 in Atlanta.
This is your full Cape Verde squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Cape Verde 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Vozinha (VC) | Chaves |
| GK | Márcio Rosa | Montana |
| GK | CJ dos Santos | San Diego FC |
| DF | Steven Moreira | Columbus Crew |
| DF | Wagner Pina | Trabzonspor |
| DF | João Paulo | FCSB |
| DF | Sidny Lopes Cabral | Benfica |
| DF | Logan Costa | Villarreal |
| DF | Pico (Roberto Lopes) | Shamrock Rovers |
| DF | Kelvin Pires | SJK Seinäjoki |
| DF | Stopira | Torreense |
| DF | Diney | Al Bataeh |
| MF | Jamiro Monteiro | PEC Zwolle |
| MF | Telmo Arcanjo | Vitória SC |
| MF | Yannick Semedo | Farense |
| MF | Laros Duarte | Puskás Akadémia |
| MF | Deroy Duarte | Ludogorets Razgrad |
| MF | Kevin Pina | Krasnodar |
| FW | Ryan Mendes (C) | Iğdır FK |
| FW | Willy Semedo | Omonia Nicosia |
| FW | Garry Rodrigues | Apollon Limassol |
| FW | Jovane Cabral | Estrela da Amadora |
| FW | Nuno da Costa | İstanbul Başakşehir |
| FW | Dailon Livramento | Casa Pia |
| FW | Gilson Benchimol | Akron Toyatti |
| FW | Hélio Varela | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
(C) = captain, (VC) = vice-captain. Ages and clubs as confirmed on May 18, 2026.
For all 48 team announcement dates, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Quick Stats
Here are the key numbers in Bubista’s final 26.
- Captain: Ryan Mendes (36 years old, 94 caps, 22 goals — both national records)
- Vice-captain: Vozinha (39, oldest player in the squad)
- Average age: Roughly 28
- Tournament debutants: All 26 players (Cape Verde’s first ever World Cup)
- MLS players: 2 (Steven Moreira at Columbus Crew, CJ dos Santos at San Diego FC)
- LaLiga player: 1 (Logan Costa at Villarreal)
- Diaspora-born players: Most of the squad was born or developed in Europe before opting to represent Cape Verde
- Country population: Around 525,000 — third smallest nation ever at a World Cup, after Curaçao and Iceland
Key Players to Watch
- Ryan Mendes (Iğdır FK). Captain and the all-time face of Cape Verdean football. The 36-year-old striker holds the national records for both caps (94) and goals (22). His leadership has been crucial across the qualification campaign and earns him a place at his first and only World Cup.
- Dailon Livramento (Casa Pia). At 24, Cape Verde’s main striker arrives as the team’s primary attacking reference. Livramento scored the decisive 1-0 winner against Cameroon on September 9, 2025, and opened the scoring in the qualifying-clinching 3-0 win over Eswatini. Bubista’s biggest offensive hope.
- Logan Costa (Villarreal). The Paris-born centre-back is widely considered Cape Verde’s best player. Costa ruptured his ACL in pre-season last July and only returned to action on May 17, 2026, as a late substitute in Villarreal’s 2-0 loss at Rayo Vallecano. Thirteen minutes was enough to convince Bubista to gamble on his fitness.
- Deroy Duarte (Ludogorets Razgrad). The 26-year-old midfielder is one of the team’s main creators, linking defense to attack with consistent passing and ball progression.
- Kevin Pina (Krasnodar). The Russian Premier League midfielder provides creativity and dead-ball quality from midfield.
- Garry Rodrigues (Apollon Limassol). Experienced forward who adds technical quality and big-tournament composure to the attack.
Cape Verde World Cup 2026 Schedule
Cape Verde plays all three group matches in the United States.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (CVT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, June 15 | Spain | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Sunday, June 21 | Uruguay | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | 6:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| Friday, June 26 | Saudi Arabia | NRG Stadium, Houston | 8:00 PM | 12:00 AM (June 27) |
As part of their preparation, Cape Verde plays two pre-World Cup friendlies. They face Serbia on May 31 in Lisbon, then take on Bermuda on June 6 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut.
How Cape Verde Qualified for World Cup 2026
Cape Verde qualified for the 2026 World Cup after seven previous failed attempts. The Blue Sharks were drawn into a CAF qualifying group with Cameroon, Libya, Angola, Mauritius, and Eswatini. Only the group winner qualified directly.
Cape Verde started slowly with a goalless draw against Angola at home. After a win over Eswatini, they lost 4-1 in Yaoundé against Cameroon, and the dream looked over. A four-match winning run flipped the script. Combined with Cameroon dropping points against Angola and Eswatini, the Blue Sharks took over first place by a single point.
The defining moment came on September 9, 2025. Dailon Livramento scored the only goal as Cape Verde beat Cameroon 1-0 at home, giving them a four-point lead with two games left. A 3-3 away draw against Libya kept the lead.
On October 13, 2025, Cape Verde sealed qualification by beating Eswatini 3-0 at the Estádio Nacional in Praia. Dailon Livramento scored in the 48th minute, Willy Semedo added the second in the 54th, and Stopira sealed the win in stoppage time. Cameroon’s home draw against Angola the same day made the result a formality, but the celebration in Cape Verde’s capital was the moment a seven-tournament wait ended.
Head Coach: Bubista
Pedro Leitão Brito, known as Bubista, is a former Cape Verde international and has managed the national team since 2020. He played for Cape Verde during his career and now leads them into their historic first World Cup.
Bubista’s approach is built on team continuity and trust. The 2026 squad keeps almost the entire core that delivered qualification. His combination of veterans (Mendes, Vozinha, Stopira) with young diaspora-developed players (Livramento, Logan Costa, Wagner Pina) gives him a balanced squad for the Group H challenge.
Group H at a Glance
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2 | 17 | Champions (2010) |
| Uruguay | 16 | 15 | Champions (1930, 1950) |
| Saudi Arabia | 60 | 7 | Round of 16 (1994) |
| Cape Verde | 70 | 1 | Debut (2026) |
Group H is one of the toughest at the tournament. Spain are reigning European champions and World Cup favourites. Uruguay are two-time world champions and a fixture in the knockout rounds. Saudi Arabia, while not a top-tier side, beat Argentina at Qatar 2022. Cape Verde face all three.
FAQ About Cape Verde World Cup Squad 2026
Who is Cape Verde’s captain at the 2026 World Cup?
Ryan Mendes captains Cape Verde at the 2026 World Cup. The 36-year-old Iğdır FK striker is the country’s all-time leader in caps (94) and goals (22). Goalkeeper Vozinha serves as vice-captain.
Is this Cape Verde’s first World Cup?
Yes. Cape Verde qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in the country’s history on October 13, 2025, after seven failed attempts. The Blue Sharks debut at the 2026 tournament makes them one of four debutants this year, alongside Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan.
Who is Cape Verde’s head coach for the 2026 World Cup?
Pedro Leitão Brito, better known as Bubista, manages Cape Verde. He is a former Cape Verde international and has been in charge of the national team since 2020.
When does Cape Verde play its first World Cup 2026 match?
Cape Verde plays its first match on Monday, June 15, 2026, against Spain at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is 12:00 PM ET.
Which group is Cape Verde in at the 2026 World Cup?
Cape Verde is in Group H with Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. The group is widely considered one of the toughest at the tournament, featuring two former world champions in Spain and Uruguay.
Is Logan Costa fit for the 2026 World Cup?
Yes, but his fitness is a gamble. The Villarreal centre-back ruptured his ACL in pre-season in July 2025 and only returned to action as a late second-half substitute on May 17, 2026, in a 2-0 LaLiga loss at Rayo Vallecano. Thirteen minutes was enough for Bubista to include him in the final 26.
How many players in the Cape Verde squad were born in Cape Verde?
Most players in the squad are from Cape Verde’s diaspora, born or developed in Europe before opting to represent the Blue Sharks. This includes Paris-born Logan Costa and other players raised in the Netherlands, Portugal, France, and other European nations with large Cape Verdean communities.
How did Cape Verde qualify for World Cup 2026?
Cape Verde won CAF qualifying Group D ahead of Cameroon, Libya, Angola, Mauritius, and Eswatini. The decisive results were the 1-0 home win over Cameroon on September 9, 2025, and the 3-0 win over Eswatini on October 13, 2025, that mathematically sealed qualification.
Has Cape Verde ever played at the African Cup of Nations?
Yes. Cape Verde has played at four AFCON tournaments. Their best result was reaching the quarter-finals in 2013 and 2023.
Cape Verde’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
Cape Verde arrive at the World Cup with one of the most inspiring stories of the tournament. A country of 525,000 people, on a small Atlantic archipelago, in football’s biggest competition for the first time. The realistic goal is competing for the third-place qualification slot from Group H, with Spain and Uruguay heavily favoured to take the top two.
Bubista’s team will lean on its tight squad chemistry, Ryan Mendes’ leadership, and the attacking spark of Dailon Livramento. Logan Costa’s fitness will be central to any defensive solidity. If they can take a point or two from Saudi Arabia and steal a result against either Uruguay or Spain, the Blue Sharks could become one of the breakout stories of June 2026.
