[Saba Sports News] As the final whistle blew in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, Cabo Verde suffered a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat to Argentina after being struck by a stoppage-time winner in extra time, falling short of a spot in the Round of 16. Though Cabo Verde failed to secure a single win throughout this World Cup campaign, their remarkable displays as an African debutant cannot be overshadowed. As a small nation making its first appearance in the World Cup, Cape Verde’s World Cup journey has been filled with miracles from the very beginning. No pundits or fans tipped them to advance out of the group stage beforehand, yet they posted an undefeated run of three draws in Group H. They held two former world champions Spain and Uruguay to stalemates respectively, edged out their group rivals to seal a historic knockout-stage berth as Group H runners-up, cementing their place in World Cup history as the first-ever side to reach the Round of 16 on their tournament debut. According to US media outlets, Cabo Verde will receive USD 11 million in prize money awarded by FIFA. In addition, every participating national team is granted a preparation subsidy of approximately USD 2.5 million. This puts Cabo Verde’s total earnings from their 2026 World Cup participation at USD 13.5 million.
The editor believes that Cabo Verde has gained far more than just prize money. Over just a handful of matches, they shot to global football fame and won support from countless fans across the world.