Cape Verde, making its World Cup debut, faces Argentina on July 4 at 7 a.m. KST at the Miami Stadium in the 32-team round of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup.
On paper, Argentina holds a clear advantage. The team topped Group J, defeating Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Lionel Messi was instrumental, scoring six goals in the group stage.
Cape Verde, in Group H, managed to secure three draws against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia, earning a total of three points to finish second in the group and advance to the knockout stage.
Cape Verde is an island nation located off the west coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean, consisting of ten islands situated west of Senegal. Its capital is Praia on Santiago Island. The official language is Portuguese, reflecting its history as a former Portuguese colony. With a population of around 520,000, it is the smallest nation to reach the knockout stage in the 96-year history of the World Cup.
While Cape Verde has not pulled off any major upsets, its resilience has been commendable. The performance of 40-year-old goalkeeper Bojinha has been particularly noteworthy; he recorded seven saves in the match against Spain, helping to keep a clean sheet.
However, the challenge ahead is formidable. Argentina, the reigning champion from the 2022 Qatar World Cup, advanced through the group stage without significant difficulty. Despite being 39 years old, Messi remains a top contender in the scoring race.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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