Cape Verde join elite African company with unbeaten start at 2026 World Cup

Cape Verde have continued their remarkable rise on the global stage by becoming only the third African nation in FIFA World Cup history to remain unbeaten after their opening two matches.

The Blue Sharks have enjoyed an impressive start to their maiden World Cup campaign at the 2026 tournament, holding two heavyweight opponents to draws and keeping alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.

Cape Verde opened their historic World Cup journey with a resilient goalless draw against Spain, producing a disciplined defensive display to frustrate one of the tournament favourites.

They followed that up with an entertaining 2-2 draw against Uruguay, demonstrating not only resilience but also an ability to compete with some of the world’s established football powers.

The results have ensured that Cape Verde enter an exclusive club occupied by just two other African nations.

Cameroon were the first African side to achieve the feat, remaining unbeaten in their opening two matches at the 1982 World Cup after drawing both games.

Two decades later, Senegal made a sensational debut at the 2002 tournament, defeating reigning champions France before drawing with Denmark in their second match.

Now, Cape Verde have added their name to that distinguished list, underlining the growing stature of the island nation in international football.

• Cameroon (1982) – two draws
• Senegal (2002) – one win, one draw
• Cape Verde (2026) – two draws

The Blue Sharks’ performances have captured the imagination of football fans across Africa and beyond, with the team continuing to write a new chapter in the country’s sporting history.

Attention now turns to their final Group Stage fixture against Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The encounter, scheduled for 01:00 BST, could prove decisive in determining Cape Verde’s World Cup destiny.

A positive result against the Green Falcons would give the Blue Sharks a genuine opportunity to secure qualification for the knockout rounds and further cement what has already been a historic campaign.

For a nation making its first appearance on football’s biggest stage, Cape Verde have already defied expectations. With one group match remaining, the dream of progressing beyond the first round remains firmly within reach.