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Cabo Verde has advanced to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Argentina. The team, composed entirely of players born abroad, made history with surprising draws against Spain and Uruguay.
Defender Roberto Lopes received his first call-up via LinkedIn in 2019, initially thinking it was a scam. Source: lavozar He eventually responded and became a key player. This reflects a broader strategy by the Cape Verdean Football Federation to scout diaspora players using unconventional methods.
None of the players play in the domestic league; they come from clubs in Portugal, Turkey, Spain, and other countries. Source: Clarín This approach paid off as they eliminated Uruguay from the group stage.
The World Cup run has sparked renewed interest among Cape Verdean descendants in Argentina, with many seeking to reconnect with their roots. Source: Clarín Clubs like the Unión Caboverdeana in Dock Sud have seen increased attendance.
“No hablaba portugués y usaba LinkedIn únicamente para temas de la universidad. Cuando vi ese mensaje pensé que era falso, que era spam.”
“Ninguno de los integrantes de la convocatoria juega en clubes del archipiélago.”
“Gracias a esta participación tuvimos una visibilización enorme. Nos llaman radios, diarios, canales y streamers de todo el país.”
“Con apenas medio millón de habitantes repartidos en un archipiélago frente a la costa africana, Cabo Verde entendió hace años que debía buscar futbolistas fuera de sus fronteras.”