HOUSTON — Cape Verde has advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup, becoming the smallest country to do so in the tournament’s history, driven by a resilient defensive performance and the standout goalkeeping of 40-year-old Vozinha. The island nation secured its place in the round of 32 with a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia on Friday night, marking their third consecutive draw in the group stage.
Making their World Cup debut, Cape Verde held several established soccer powers to draws, including a 0-0 result against 2010 champions Spain and a 2-2 comeback against Uruguay. The team finished second in Group B with three points, behind Spain, which clinched the group by defeating Uruguay on the same night.
Cape Verde’s coach, Bubista, expressed pride in the team’s performance, noting the determination and fighting spirit that guided them through the tournament. “We are proud of having arrived at this stage. We have shown that we are a small country, but that we fight for the things that we want to achieve,” he said, draped in the national flag following the match.
The Blue Sharks, as Cape Verde’s team is nicknamed, will face reigning World Cup champions Argentina in Miami on July 3. Their advancement is notable given the rarity of teams progressing with three draws in the group stage, a feat previously achieved by teams like Wales in 1958 and Chile in 1998, though it has not been a guarantee of advancement, as seen with New Zealand in 2010.
Vozinha was key to Cape Verde’s defensive resilience, making crucial saves throughout the game. His notable stops included a header from Saudi forward Mohamed Kanno in first-half stoppage time and saves against Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat and Abdullah Al-Hamdan in the second half and injury time, respectively. Vozinha’s leadership and performance throughout the tournament have earned him widespread acclaim and a large social media following.
“Our team has a lot of quality,” Vozinha said. “We came here to show that we can compete at the highest levels, and our players can play in the big leagues.”
Cape Verde nearly broke the deadlock on several occasions, with attempts by Kevin Pina, Laros Duarte, and Nuno da Costa narrowly missing the target. However, the Goalless draw was enough to secure their historic passage, prompting celebrations among players and fans. A crowd of 68,278 witnessed the match, including Vozinha’s mother, Ana Candida Evora, who followed the game from a luxury suite.
Saudi Arabia was eliminated from the tournament after finishing last in the group with two points. Saudi coach Georgios Donis criticized his team’s inability to control the game or create scoring chances, acknowledging that their lackluster performance made victory unattainable.
Cape Verde’s surprising run has captivated many, embodying the hopes of a nation of just over 500,000 people. Bubista reflected on the team’s achievement: “I’ve always said that sooner or later Cape Verde would be on such a stage. It’s hard to predict, but I always had faith.”