It is one of the fairy tales of the tournament that Cape Verde faces Spain, the favorites, in their first match at this World Cup. But it is coming. “I believe we can surprise people once again,” says Telmo Arcanjo. sky sports.
The attacking midfielder has a point. Cape Verde is far from the lowest ranked country in this World Cup. In fact, they are currently above a Ghanaian team that includes many familiar Premier League names. They beat Cameroon well in the qualifiers.
Those who have been following their adventures at the Africa Cup of Nations will know that they reached the quarter-finals in their first appearance in the finals in 2013 and repeated the feat in early 2024. This small island nation has found a formula for success.
“The secret is unity,” explains Arcanjo. This is a group of players of different ages, based in different countries and actually born there. “But whenever we come together as a national team, we put our country above all else.”
Cape Verde joined FIFA in 1986 and did not actually qualify for a World Cup until early this century, but with the help of the diaspora, their true potential is being realized. A look at the squad composition highlights that point.
Twelve of the group were born in Cape Verde, but six Dutch-born players (three from France and three, including Arcanzo) are from Portugal. Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes was born in Ireland. Goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos was born in Philadelphia.
Cape Verde’s Roberto Lopez celebrates his team’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Their stories are all different. For Pico, a qualified Shamrock Rovers defender through his father, discovering more about his heritage has been a journey in itself. For Arcanjo, it has always been an important element in his life. “It’s a part of me,” he explains.
“I was born and raised in Europe, but I have always been very close to Cape Verdean culture through my family. Cape Verde means representing my roots, my history and the people who came before me. This is something I do with great pride and responsibility.”
In fact, Arcanjo was born in Lisbon, but his ties to Cape Verde were so deep that his older brother represented Lisbon. “My family has supported me at every stage of my career and I have very strong ties to Cape Verde.”
Do they have this as much as him? “There is no doubt about it. Being able to represent the country on a stage of this magnitude belongs to them as well. It is a reward for all the sacrifices they have made and the support they have given me over the years.”
I feel proud. “It means more than football. Cape Verde is a small country, but it has a very strong identity and a huge diaspora spread all over the world.” Maybe this could mean more to immigrant communities. A chance to give back.
“Participating in the World Cup is an opportunity to show who we are, our culture, our history and the talents of our people,” points out Arcanjo. “This is a source of national pride and something that brings together Cape Verdeans wherever they are in the world.”
This was clearly evident in the game against Eswatini in October. It was a tense day until they emerged 3-0 winners with the World Cup title on the brink. “The feeling I had when the final whistle blew and I realized we had qualified,” Arcanjo recalls.
“It was a moment that is difficult to put into words. We knew what it meant to the country and everyone who believed in us. Seeing the joy of my teammates, coaching staff and supporters will stay with me forever.”
Cape Verde midfielder Telmo Arcanjo greets fans during a pre-World Cup training session.
Arcanjo is likely to start in one of the attacking positions in coach Bubista’s 4-2-3-1 formation after an impressive season with Vitoria Guimaraes that saw them win the Taca da Liga with a dramatic win over rivals Braga. “It’s a special moment,” he says.
“It has been a very positive season. Personally, I see every season as an opportunity to continue to develop and improve. I have grown as a player and, above all, as a person. We have also achieved something historic that will always be part of the club’s history.”
But if history is what Arcanjo is after, the prize in Cape Verde may be even sweeter. The match is on the biggest stage and the draw sees two-time World Cup winners Uruguay face European champions Spain in the opening match.
“We know the level of Spain and the challenges ahead of us, but we also know what we are capable of when we are united and focused. Our goal is to compete at the highest level in every competition and represent Cape Verde in the best way possible.”
target? “To create more historic moments for our country. To show the world the quality that exists in our football,” he says. “There was also a lot of hard work, organization and constant belief that we could achieve something historic.”
