During the group stage and the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, less frequent football fans and spectators showed a certain attachment and support to the Cape Verde team.
The small African country finished second in Group Hdespite sharing it with Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, after tying all three games. However, Internet users and soccer fans rallied in favor of this team with memes and expectations in each duel.
The international sports press points out that, despite lose against Argentina in a agonizing and epic 3-2 during extra timeCape Verde “earned everyone’s respect.”
The Argentine political scientist Tomás Trapé explained in Infobae why the fans celebrate an unknown as if it were their own feat. It’s about the effect underdoga phenomenon that social psychology has studied for decades.
Read more: “We fell on our feet”: Vozinha summarizes Cape Verde’s pride after losing to Argentina
In each edition of the World Cup there appears a unexpected selection that arouses global sympathy, such as Uruguay in South Africa 2010, Costa Rica in Brazil 2014, Croatia in Russia 2018 or Morocco in Qatar 2022. According to Trapé, what conquers the fans is not only the result, but the story it represents: “The possibility that someone who seemed condemned to lose manage to defy all odds“.
François Quesque, researcher at the Lyon Neuroscience Center, points out that children spontaneously tend to take the side of the strongest, a behavior associated with evolutionary survival mechanisms. In turn, social psychologist Joseph Vandello, from the University of South Florida, maintains that the underdog fulfills one balance function within society.
For this reason, they love stories like David vs. GoliathZeus challenging Cronos or Rocky getting into the ring against a superior rival.
Vandello tested his hypothesis by presenting different groups with two fictitious teams and asking them to choose which one they sympathized with. When the context made it clear which was the favorite and which was the underdog, about 90% opted for the latter.
“The effect underdog depends on a perception of injusticeof a disadvantage that we feel should be corrected,” Trapé wrote.
He adds: “If Cape Verde can tie Spain, Maybe we can handle our Goliaths too.“.
What makes Cape Verde so special
Cape Verde is a small country with barely 500 thousand inhabitants, located in a volcanic archipelago off the coast of Africa and with a Luso-African culture. However, he became the sensation of the 2026 World Cup.
His debut broke all the predictions because tied 0-0 with one of the tournament favorites, Spain. Then they rescued a 2-2 draw against Uruguay. Finally, they tied 0-0 again with Saudi Arabia.
The Cape Verde squad is integrated only by two players from the local league. The rest of the footballers were born or trained in Europe, mainly in Portugal, the Netherlands and France, as well as in the United States.
The only two players with a past in the local league are, in addition, the team’s greatest references and veterans: goalkeeper Josimar Dias Vozinha and the defender Stopira.
According to the Argentine newspaper The NationCape Verde’s success is due to the recruitment and convocation of children and grandchildren of emigrants based abroad.
In the African Cup, the Cape Verdeans managed to reach the quarterfinals and qualify for the World Cup.
The captain of the national team, Ryan Mendes, has played for teams in France, England and Türkiye.
Vozinha and her mother
The goalkeeper Vozinha40 years old, showed his talent and experience since the match against Spain by making seven saves and keep his goal undefeated. However, the celebration of the tie had a bittersweet taste because his mother, Ana Candida Evora, could not be in the stands to see him fulfill his dream of playing in a World Cup. She had trouble getting a visa to the United States.
“I cried because my grandparents raised me and they are not here because they died. And for my mother, who did not travel due to a visa issue“Vozinha told the BBC after the game, visibly emotional.
The difficulty was that Cape Verde is among the countries whose citizens could be subject to a bail of up to US$15 thousand for certain visas, an amount impossible for the footballer’s family.
The case reached the American authorities and, after several efforts, Vozinha’s mother got permission to travel.
Ana was able to fly to Miami, Florida, and cheer on her son in the match against Uruguay.
“I want to thank all the fans, everyone who helped in the process, for the support they gave to the team, especially Cape Verde,” Ana said, according to The Mirror US.
“A kiss for you. Be strong and brave, blue sharks!“he added.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio intervened after the visa application failed. Also the Democratic representative of the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, announced that visa fees had been waived.
Another gesture that gained importance on social networks was that the Cape Verde team showed solidarity with Venezuela after the two earthquakes that affected that South American country on June 24, according to state television.