The Cape Verde national football team is preparing for its historic debut at the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia in Group H.
Head coach Pedro Leitao Brito, known as Bubista, has selected a 26-man squad representing 25 clubs across 14 countries.
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Notably, six players were born in Rotterdam, Netherlands—more than those born in the capital Praia.
The squad relies heavily on naturalized players, requiring integration of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. However, the national team views this diversity as an advantage.
The team has enjoyed stability under Bubista for nearly five years.
Known for their physical style and defensive compactness, the "Blue Sharks" also feature technically skilled attackers like Ryan Mendes, Willy Semedo, and Jovane Cabral.
A key concern is the fitness of French-born defender Logan Costa.
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The Villarreal center-back has not played in the 2025-2026 season due to an anterior cruciate ligament tear sustained last summer.
Bubista is seen as a crucial figure capable of leading Cape Verde to an upset.
Born on the island of Boa Vista, he chose football over academics, playing in Portugal, Spain, and Angola before captaining Cape Verde for nearly a decade.
As manager, Bubista enforces a strict rule: all players must speak only Creole while representing the national team.
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"This is the official language of the selection," he said. "Sometimes players try to speak other languages, but I don't allow this to preserve Cape Verde's identity."
