No, until 2026. Cape Verde qualified for the first time for the 2026 tournament, one of four debut nations alongside Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan.Source: FIFA

Can Cape Verde fans attend the 2026 World Cup?

Only with great difficulty. Cape Verde is among five qualified nations subject to the US Visa Bond Pilot Programme, requiring nationals to post bonds of up to $15,000 per person for a tourist Visa.Source: US State Department

Where is Cape Verde?

Cape Verde is an island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 570km off the west coast of Senegal, with a population of around 550,000.

Background

In March 2026, Cape Verde qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming one of four nations to make their debut in the first 48-team edition of the tournament. The qualification was shadowed by a significant barrier for Cape Verdean supporters: as one of five qualified nations subject to the US Visa Bond Pilot Programme, nationals must post bonds of up to $15,000 per person for a US tourist Visa, effectively excluding most ordinary fans from attending.

On 21 June 2026, Cape Verde opened their World Cup campaign against Uruguay, drawing 2-2 in a result that announced their arrival on the global stage. Jamiro Pina scored a 32nd-minute free-kick to give Cape Verde their first ever World Cup goal, and the Blue Sharks held on for an unbeaten debut result. The draw echoed Senegal's debut performance at the 2002 World Cup, when they beat France in their opening match. Cape Verde are unbeaten in their opening World Cup match, a feat that matched Senegal's celebrated 2002 debut.

Cape Verde's historic debut run ended in the Round of 32 on 3 July, losing 3-2 after extra time to holders Argentina, having twice come from behind through Deroy Duarte and Sidny Lopes Cabral, before Cristian Romero's deflected header settled it in the additional period. It was the furthest an island nation of Cape Verde's size had gone on a World Cup debut.

Cape Verde (Cabo Verde) is an Atlantic island nation of roughly 550,000 people, located approximately 570 kilometres off the west coast of Senegal. An archipelago of ten volcanic islands, it gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and has since developed into one of West Africa's more stable democracies. The economy depends heavily on tourism, remittances, and fishing; the country's diaspora, concentrated above all in Portugal and the Netherlands, outnumbers the resident population.

Cape Verde has historically punched well above its weight in African football. The national team, known as the Blue Sharks, has qualified for multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and produced players who compete in top European leagues. The diaspora talent pool has been central to their development, with players drawn from Portuguese and Dutch club football reinforcing a squad that would be thin on talent from the domestic league alone.