LinkedIn discovery helps Cape Verde qualify for 2026 World Cup ahead of Cameroon

Cape Verde have made history by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the second smallest nation ever to reach the global showpiece, and their unlikely success story has a unique twist involving the professional networking site, LinkedIn.

The Blue Sharks sealed qualification with an emphatic 3-0 win over Eswatini, finishing top of their group ahead of African powerhouse Cameroon, who boast Premier League star Bryan Mbeumo. The qualification sparked jubilant celebrations across the island nation, home to just about 550,000 people, fewer than those living on Merseyside in England.

One of the team’s key players, Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto “Pico” Lopes, revealed that his international journey began after receiving a message on LinkedIn asking about his eligibility to represent Cape Verde - a message he initially ignored.

“I was paranoid at first,” the 33-year-old Dublin-born centre-back admitted. “Growing up in an area with lots of prank calls, I didn’t take it seriously. But I eventually replied - and that decision changed my life.”

Lopes’ father hails from the island of São Nicolau, one of the ten islands that make up Cape Verde. He said joining the national team helped him reconnect with his roots and witness the power of the Cape Verdean diaspora.

“My father left the island when he was 16, like many others who sought opportunities abroad. We’re all over the world, but when we come together, it’s amazing what we can achieve,” he said.

Lopes joined the national team in 2019, initially nervous about the language barrier, as Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole are the main languages spoken. “Everyone was so welcoming,” he said. “Some spoke English to help me settle, and it motivated me to learn Creole. When we’re together, we speak Creole - it’s a lovely thing. After that, it’s just football, and that’s a universal language.”

Cape Verde’s squad now features a mix of players from France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and across the diaspora, united by their roots and shared ambition.

Having joined FIFA only in 1986 and first entered World Cup qualifying in 2000, Cape Verde’s rise has been remarkable. With a domestic league of just 12 clubs, the Blue Sharks have relied on foreign-based talent to boost their competitiveness - and now, they will be among Africa’s representatives at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

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