Historic Cup qualification for Cape Verde

Cape Verde beat Eswatini 3-0 on Monday to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup, booking its place in soccer's global showpiece for the very first time.

The team from an archipelago off the coast of Senegal with about 550,000 inhabitants becomes the second-least populous nation to reach the World Cup, after Iceland, with just over 350,000 people, qualified for Russia 2018.

"What a historic moment," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a video message. "Congratulations to everyone in Cape Verde for making the FIFA World Cup for the first time. Your flag will fly and your anthem will be heard at the greatest FIFA World Cup ever.

"Your work on football development in recent years has been incredible, and this is a moment where your stars will become global and power a new generation of football lovers across Cape Verde."

Cape Verde won Group D with 23 points, four more than Cameroon, which holds the African record for World Cup appearances with eight. Cameroon was held 0-0 by Angola in Yaounde.

"Giving this happiness to these people is enormous ... it's a victory for all the Cape Verdean people and, above all, a victory for those who fought for our independence," coach Pedro Brito told reporters.

"It's a special moment in this celebration of the 50th anniversary of our independence."

An emotional Vozinha, the 39-year-old goalkeeper, admitted: "I have been dreaming of this moment since I was a child.