[Saba Sports News] In the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, first-time World Cup participants Cabo Verde forced defending champions Argentina into extra time before losing narrowly 2-3.
After the match, Arlindo do Rosário, Ambassador of Cabo Verde to China, gave an interview to Phoenix TV. He stated that football serves as a wonderful channel to deepen China-Cabo Verde ties, and the two sides could carry out more extensive football exchanges. Meanwhile, he voiced his hope that the Cabo Verde national football team could come to China for several matches.
This World Cup has seen the North Atlantic island nation Cabo Verde pull off one miracle after another, holding three past World Cup winners to draws within the regulation 90 minutes. Their magical run actually began in World Cup qualifying, where they edged out Cameroon to secure a historic first-ever World Cup berth for the country. Cabo Verde’s stunning performances have captured massive global fan attention, including supporters in China. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cabo Verde, which is why the ambassador brought up football during the interview.
In my view, the ambassador’s remarks constitute a diplomatic gesture of gratitude built upon the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and decades of Chinese assistance projects in Cabo Verde. His core goal is to advance bilateral friendship through sports exchanges rather than merely issuing an invitation for competitive fixtures. The underlying logic lies in reciprocal appreciation and people-to-people connectivity. Nevertheless, given the tight schedule of China’s men’s national football team as they prepare for the Asian Cup, the prospect of such a tour materializing in the short term remains extremely slim.