Cape Verde Islands at World Cup 2026: Squad, Fixtures & Betting Analysis

Cape Verde enter World Cup 2026 as Group H underdogs whose compact defending and island-hardened discipline can still shape margins against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. This Cape Verde World Cup 2026 hub tracks the live Cape Verde squad, Cape Verde fixtures, form, injuries and Cape Verde odds context without treating any market as a certainty.

Group H stacks European possession dominance, South American knockout pedigree and Middle Eastern organisation — three profiles that test whether Cape Verde can protect goal difference while hunting points. For standings, rivals and comparative markets, see Group H, the full World Cup 2026 schedule and tournament outright favourites.

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Team overview

Cape Verde often sit in a disciplined mid-to-low block, absorb pressure and attack through quick transitions and set pieces. Strengths for this Cape Verde World Cup 2026 campaign include collective compactness, fighting spirit and the ability to frustrate possession-heavy opponents for long stretches. Weaknesses show when sustained pressure erodes concentration, when squad depth is tested across three matchdays, or when chasing Spain pulls the shape apart.

Ulisses Antunes brings clear underdog messaging valuable when margins are thin. The Spain away opener is a stern exam; Uruguay’s physicality and Saudi Arabia’s structure demand different game plans across nine days.

Group H survival for Cape Verde usually means maximising points against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay while limiting damage against Spain — best-third routes depend on tight tables across the tournament.

Monitor the injury block and confirmed lineups before acting on Cape Verde predictions or match markets.

Squad

Goalkeepers

#	Player	Pos	Age
1	Vózinha	Goalkeeper	39
12	Márcio Rosa	Goalkeeper	28
21	C. dos Santos	Goalkeeper	25

Defenders

#	Player	Pos	Age
2	Stopira	Defender	37
3	Diney Borges	Defender	30
4	Pico	Defender	33
5	Logan Costa	Defender	24
7	Wagner Pina	Defender	23
13	Kelvin Pires	Defender	25
—	S. Lopes Cabral	Defender	23
22	S. Moreira	Defender	31

Midfielders

#	Player	Pos	Age
6	Kevin Pina	Midfielder	28
8	João Paulo	Midfielder	27
10	Jamiro Monteiro	Midfielder	32
14	Deroy Duarte	Midfielder	26
15	L. Duarte	Midfielder	28
16	Yannick Semedo	Midfielder	30
18	Telmo Arcanjo	Midfielder	24

Forwards

#	Player	Pos	Age
7	Jovane Cabral	Attacker	27
9	D. Livramento	Attacker	24
—	Gilson Benchimol	Attacker	24
11	Garry Rodrigues	Attacker	35
17	Willy Semedo	Attacker	31
19	Hélio Varela	Attacker	23
20	Ryan Mendes	Attacker	36
21	Nuno da Costa	Attacker	34

Goalkeepers. Shot-stopping and command on crosses stabilise a back line facing long Spain spells in the opener. Backup quality matters across three summer fixtures.

Defenders. Centre-back communication and fullback discipline are critical when blocks shift under Uruguayan and Spanish overloads. Set-piece defending at both ends often decides whether Cape Verde leave with a point.

Midfielders. Winning second balls and releasing counters quickly is the control point — without midfield resilience, Cape Verde spend entire halves pinned in their own third.

Forwards. Clinical finishing on limited chances separates a famous result from a respectable loss. Movement on the break and penalty-box aggression on set pieces are realistic routes to goals.

Use the Cape Verde squad table above for named players and positions; numbers update from the API feed and may not reflect the final 26 until the tournament squad is confirmed.

Coach

Lúcio Antunes

Fixtures & results

Group standing

#	Team	P	Pts	Form
1	Spain	0	0	n/a
2	Cape Verde Islands	0	0	n/a
3	Saudi Arabia	0	0	n/a
4	Uruguay	0	0	n/a

Full Group H hub

Recent form

Date	Result	Opponent	Score
2026-05-31	W	Serbia	3:0
2026-03-30	D	Finland	1:1
2026-03-27	L	Chile	2:4
2025-11-17	D	Egypt	1:1
2025-11-13	D	Iran	0:0

Injuries

No reported injuries in the current tournament feed.

Match odds (model)

Match	1	X	2
Spain vs Cabo Verde	33%	33%	33%
Uruguay vs Cabo Verde	33%	33%	33%
Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia	33%	33%	33%

Model win probabilities from API predictions (not guaranteed prices).

Tournament path

Cape Verde open Group H away against Spain on 15 June 2026, meet Uruguay on 21 June 2026, then close against Saudi Arabia on 26 June 2026. Kickoff times in the fixtures block are shown in UTC on this page.

Points against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay often decide whether the Spain result is survivable on goal difference; dropped points in the middle fixture can end knockout hopes before the finale. Finishing in the top two is a long shot; third or best-third places stay alive with disciplined margins.

Any knockout path depends on surviving the group first. For bracket context beyond Group H, track the knockout schedule as it fills in.

Betting outlook

Cape Verde odds in group-winner and qualification markets reflect outsider status, but handicap and match-total angles can still move with confirmed lineups. Match-by-match 1X2 prices sharpen once team news lands — treat early numbers as opinion, not edge.

Look for Cape Verde betting value when markets underestimate compact defending and counter threat, not when Spain’s favourite tag assumes easy margins. Outright trophy markets carry far more variance than group survival bets.

Performance forecast

Base case: Cape Verde exit after the group stage but compete for third or best-third with a point or two if Saudi Arabia and Uruguay fixtures break their way.

Bear case: Heavy margins against Spain erode goal difference and morale before Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, ending best-third hopes early.

Bull case: A draw against Uruguay or Saudi Arabia plus tight losses elsewhere keeps best-third math alive — still requiring a kind wider table and peak discipline.

FAQ

How far will Cape Verde go in World Cup 2026?

Round of 32 would be a historic surprise; a realistic aim is third place or best-third qualification with a point or two. Knockout variance stays extreme for outsiders.

What are Cape Verde's chances of winning the World Cup?

Outright markets treat Cape Verde as long-shot outsiders for the trophy. A deep run would require a chain of upsets against far stronger profiles.

Who are the key players for Cape Verde?

See the live Cape Verde squad table for confirmed numbers and positions. Goalkeepers, centre-backs and transition forwards typically matter most in this group profile.

What is the biggest weakness for Cape Verde?

Sustained pressure from possession-dominant and physical sides and thin squad depth across three matchdays are the main concerns. Chasing Spain too early can open fatal space.

When are Cape Verde matches played?

All three group Cape Verde fixtures are listed in the fixtures block with dates and links to match previews when available. Kickoff times are shown in UTC on this page.

Cape Verde’s World Cup 2026 path runs through Group H and the discipline to turn limited chances into standings points. Use the data blocks here for Cape Verde fixtures, squad and odds context — and bet only on confirmed markets, with stakes you can afford to lose.

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