Cabo Verde, an African island nation with a population of 580,000, has gained attention as a surprising contender in the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, emerging as a new travel destination for Chinese tourists.
Making its debut in the World Cup, Cabo Verde drew with powerhouse teams Spain and Uruguay in the group stage. In the round of 32 on July 4, they put up a fierce fight against defending champions Argentina, pushing the match into extra time. Although they did not secure a victory, the team’s performance propelled "Cabo Verde" to the top of trending topics on Chinese social media shortly after the game.
According to the Chinese online media outlet Zhupai News, major travel platforms such as Trip.com, Tongcheng, and QuNiao have reported a surge in searches related to Cabo Verde, with travel agencies quickly launching related packages.
As of 8 a.m. on July 4, searches for flights to Praia, the capital of Cabo Verde, increased nearly 30-fold compared to the previous week. Notably, searches for flights departing from Guangzhou in Guangdong Province skyrocketed by 184 times.
Trip.com also noted that interest in Cabo Verde has surged by 388% compared to last year and by 852% compared to the previous month. Actual bookings have also risen, with flight reservations up 76% and hotel bookings increasing by 46% year-over-year.
Travel packages are being introduced rapidly. Trip.com has launched a group tour package covering major African countries, including Cabo Verde, for 160,400 yuan. A 13-night, 14-day independent travel package covering Spain, Portugal, and Cabo Verde is priced at 71,000 yuan, while some travel agencies offer customized packages solely for Cabo Verde.
Cabo Verde is located about 500 kilometers west of Senegal in the Atlantic Ocean. There are no direct flights from mainland China to Praia, requiring two or three layovers, with an average travel time of around 40 hours. One-way economy class tickets can cost approximately 10,000 yuan.
Despite these challenges, Chinese media have suggested that this rarity enhances Cabo Verde's appeal. The Beijing Daily noted that about 90% of tourists visiting Cabo Verde are from Western Europe, making it an "untapped travel destination" for Chinese travelers. The low awareness of this West African island among Chinese tourists aligns with the demand for new overseas travel destinations, positioning Cabo Verde as a potential dark horse in the overseas travel market this second half of the year.
The World Cup has unexpectedly sparked a tourism boom, which China is actively leveraging to highlight the achievements of bilateral cooperation.
Chinese media have emphasized that this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Cabo Verde, using the World Cup momentum to promote the friendly ties between the two nations.
China has supported the construction of key infrastructure in Cabo Verde, including the national assembly building, government offices, national stadium, and Poilão Dam. The national stadium in Praia, completed in 2013 with Chinese assistance, is noted as the only FIFA-certified stadium in West Africa.
Cabo Verde President José Maria Neves has expressed gratitude, stating, "Without China's support, we could not have built a stadium of this caliber. We would have incurred enormous costs for overseas training and stadium rentals, making World Cup participation difficult."
The Cabo Verdean ambassador to China recently stated in an interview that "soccer has strengthened the friendship between our two nations," expressing hope for friendly matches between the national teams.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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