Cape Verde’s Captain Leads a Historic World Cup Qualification—A Dream Realized on the Global Stage
21 October 2025
Historic World Cup qualification and a long-term project
Ryan Mendes isn’t a household name on Europe’s top stages yet, as he currently plays in the Turkish second division with Iğdır Spor, but by the summer of 2026 he will stand among the globe’s football elite after steering Cape Verde to a historic first-ever World Cup finals appearance.
The 35-year-old captain played a pivotal role in the decisive 3-0 victory over Eswatini, sealing the Blue Sharks’ passage to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
From France to the World Stage
This achievement didn’t come by accident. Cape Verde’s squad relies heavily on the football heritage of Portugal, featuring players born or trained there, thanks to historical ties between the two nations.
This approach has yielded a strong, cohesive generation; at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, Cape Verde topped a group that included Ghana, Egypt and Mozambique, before being eliminated by South Africa in the quarterfinals on penalties after an impressive display.
In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers (CAF), the team continued to shine, finishing top of their group ahead of strong sides such as Cameroon, making history as the first island nation to reach the global finals tournament.
“What we’re living is the result of years of work,” Mendes says.
“We have taken part in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, and we were very close to a World Cup birth in 2014. Today’s achievement is the logical outcome of years of effort and growth.”
Despite his calm tone, Mendes spoke with elation after qualification; the capital Praia swelled into a carnival after the win over Eswatini, celebrating an unprecedented milestone in the country’s history.
“Honestly, I can’t believe what we’ve achieved so far. When I was a kid I dreamt of a Brazil shirt with Ronaldo on the chest, and of suiting up for a World Cup one day—now that dream is real with my country.”
From the French pitches to making history
He began his career in France with Le Havre, moved to Lille, had a brief stint in England with Nottingham Forest, and played for clubs in Cyprus, Portugal, and Turkey.
With the Cape Verde national team, Mendes has earned more than 70 caps and scored 16 goals, making him one of the most-capped players in the country’s modern history.
“We want to tell our story ourselves.”
The Cape Verdean population is around 525,000, making the nation the second-smallest by population in World Cup finals participation after Iceland, and the smallest by land area.
Mendes is confident: “We may not have Ronaldo-like names, but we have team spirit and ambition. One thing is certain: we won’t go to the World Cup just to play three games and return home.”
“We don’t know our group yet, but we want to leave a good impression and play beautiful football—the thing we love more than anything else. We’ll give our all and write our story ourselves, hoping it’s even more beautiful than the moment of qualification.”
Historical background
Cape Verde was founded in 1982 and joined FIFA in 1986; their World Cup 2026 qualification marks their first-ever appearance on football’s biggest stage.
They have already participated in four Africa Cup of Nations editions (2013, 2015, 2021, 2023), reaching the quarterfinals twice.
The squad includes several European-based players, notably Voginia (Saint Clare) and Gary Rodriguez and Ryan Mendes himself.
As the story unfolds, Cape Verde’s football journey blends local pride with a continental dream, signaling a new era for the nation on the global map.
Punchline 1: Cape Verde’s game plan is simple—aim, fire, and celebrate like you’ve discovered a new island with Wi‑Fi.
Punchline 2: If football were a sniper’s rifle, Cape Verde just loaded the scope, pulled the trigger, and watched the net ripple—now that’s what we call a well-aimed fairy tale.
