Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has hailed his side’s historic qualification for the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026, saying the team has shown the world that the small island nation knows “how to compete” against football’s biggest powers.
The Blue Sharks made history by progressing to the knockout stage after finishing second in their group behind Spain. Their campaign included three hard-fought draws, enough to secure qualification and make Cape Verde the smallest nation ever to reach the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds.
The achievement has set up a blockbuster Round of 32 encounter against defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, in Miami on July 3.
“Playing Argentina And Messi Is A Dream”
Speaking after Cape Verde sealed qualification with a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia, the 40-year-old goalkeeper admitted that reaching the knockout stage exceeded even the players’ expectations.
“None of us dreamed of this, but we know we have quality. When we arrived at the World Cup, many people probably thought we would not win any games. We have a great team and quality players. It is gratifying to have qualified for the next phase, and facing Argentina will be very good. It is a dream for any footballer to play against Argentina and Lionel Messi,” Vozinha said, as quoted by Goal.com.
Despite settling for a draw against Saudi Arabia, Vozinha insisted his side had entered every game aiming for victory.
“We did not come here to secure a draw. We always sought to win. We knew it was not going to be easy because Saudi Arabia also has a lot of quality and experience in these types of matches. We tried everything to score, but we could not. Everyone saw that we had more possession, more chances and more opportunities. We deserve congratulations,” he added.
“We Have Shown That We Can Compete”
Cape Verde entered the tournament as one of the biggest underdogs but stunned football fans by remaining unbeaten throughout the group stage.
They opened their campaign by holding European champions Spain to a goalless draw before earning another 2-2 draw against Uruguay. Their final stalemate against Saudi Arabia confirmed qualification.
Vozinha believes those performances have changed perceptions about football in Cape Verde.
“We are from a small country, but we know how to compete. Perhaps most people think that Cape Verdean players are not good enough, but we have shown that we have quality. We are here to compete, and we can compete in any major competition,” he said.
Cape Verde’s Journey Built On Sacrifice
The veteran goalkeeper also reflected on the struggles faced by many Cape Verdean players growing up and dedicated the team’s achievement to the people of the island nation.
“We grew up with immense difficulties, and our parents and grandparents sacrificed and taught us to value things. We have shown the resilience of the Cape Verdean people, the passion we have for our country, and that we are here to represent not only the players but all Cape Verdeans scattered around the world.”
“We have big hearts, and we are fighters,” he added.
Inspiring The Next Generation
Vozinha hopes Cape Verde’s remarkable World Cup run will inspire young footballers across the country to dream bigger.
“We are here to be an example for the little ones. Who knows if, from now on, we will have role models that children can look up to and say one day they want to be like Stopira, Ryan Mendes or another player from the Cape Verde national team,” he said.
Vozinha Joins World Cup Goalkeeping Legends
Apart from helping Cape Verde create history, Vozinha also etched his name into the FIFA World Cup record books.
The 40-year-old became only the third goalkeeper in tournament history to register multiple clean sheets after turning 40.
According to OptaJose, England legend Peter Shilton leads the list with three clean sheets after the age of 40, while Italy great Dino Zoff and Vozinha now share second place with two each.
With confidence soaring after an unbeaten group-stage campaign, Cape Verde will now look to continue their fairytale journey when they face defending champions Argentina in one of the most anticipated Round of 32 clashes of the tournament.