Half a million hearts, one score: how Cape Verde held the world champions and gave the islands a historic draw
0:0 with Spain — former world champions, a historic debut in Group H, celebrations in Praia, and upcoming matches against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. A small country with a big heart made the world take notice.
As reported by CCTV+, on June 15, Cape Verde snatched a historic point at the FIFA World Cup, drawing 0:0 with former world champions Spain, sparking wild celebrations across the African island nation of just over half a million people. Many residents of the capital Praia said they were thrilled with the result of the team's historic debut in Group H of the 2026 World Cup and are hoping for even better performances from their players.
Fatima, a shop owner in Praia, said: "I would like to say that I am very happy with the first match. I want our team to achieve 2:0, 3:0, or at least 1:0 in the next matches." Next month, Cape Verde will face Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in Group H.
Cape Verde is an island nation off the west coast of Africa with a population of about 550,000. This is the country's first ever World Cup appearance. The draw with Spain, who won the World Cup in 2010, is the greatest achievement in the nation's football history. Group H also includes Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. For the team, every remaining match is an opportunity not just to compete, but to make history.
When a country with a population smaller than an average London borough walks onto the pitch against world champions and walks away with a draw, football ceases to be just a game. It becomes the voice of a nation. On the islands of Cape Verde, where life often flows at a gentle pace, this match made hearts beat faster. And though Uruguay and Saudi Arabia lie ahead, that 0:0 will forever remain golden.
Because sometimes you don't need goals to feel like a winner. Sometimes, just not losing to those you're "supposed" to lose to is enough. And then the whole world looks at that tiny dot on the map and understands: football is not about size — it's about heart.
