Cape Verde, a small island nation off the west coast of Africa, made a remarkable run in the 2026 World Cup, finishing second in their group and pushing Argentina to the limit in the Round of 32.

A Dream Come True

Cape Verde center back Pico Lopes, who was recruited to the national team via LinkedIn, said the team’s success was a dream come true. Lopes, who is Irish-born and had no plans to play international soccer, was discovered by coach Rui Águas, who sent him a message on LinkedIn.

The team’s journey was nothing short of remarkable, with Cape Verde drawing their first game against Spain, a team ranked 2nd in the world, and then going on to draw their next two games against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

An Inspiration to the Nation

Lopes believes that the team’s run has permanently shifted the island’s soccer future, inspiring a new generation of players and fans. The team’s success has also brought a sense of pride and unity to the nation, with Lopes saying that the team’s performance was a testament to the country’s spirit and determination.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.