Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Cape Verde made history on Monday as they booked a ticket to their first-ever FIFA World Cup after a 3-0 victory over Eswatini. The island nation, tucked off the coast of West Africa, became only the second smallest country ever to qualify for football's biggest stage. With a population of around 525,000, smaller than the US state of Vermont, Cape Verde now joins a rare group of nations that proved size isn't a barrier to footballing dreams.
The Blue Sharks topped their African qualifying group ahead of heavyweights Cameroon a remarkable achievement for a team that has made just four Africa Cup of Nations appearances in its history. Their World Cup debut will come exactly 50 years after gaining independence from Portugal, a milestone moment that will no doubt inspire generations back home.
Until now, Iceland has held the record as the smallest country ever to reach the men's World Cup. With just over 350,000 people, the Nordic nation stunned the world in 2018 when it qualified for the tournament in Russia.
Their rise wasn't sudden, as Iceland had knocked England out of Euro 2016 on their way to the quarterfinals, a defining moment in the country's sporting history. In Russia, they played out a famous draw against Argentina but failed to progress beyond the group stage after losing to Croatia and Nigeria. Still, their grit and unity left a lasting mark on global football.
Paraguay was one of the early pioneers among small nations, taking part in the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. Back then, its population was just under a million. They beat Belgium but were eliminated after a loss to the United States.
Almost a century later, the South American side remains a regular participant and has already secured qualification for its ninth appearance at the 2026 edition. Another nation, Trinidad and Tobago, with just 1.3 million people, made its lone World Cup appearance in 2006. The Caribbean nation impressed by holding Sweden to a draw before bowing out after defeats to England and Paraguay. Their run remains one of the most memorable moments in CONCACAF football history.
Northern Ireland, with a population of 1.4 million in 1958, became one of the smallest teams ever to qualify. They advanced to the knockout stages that year before losing to France. The team returned to the tournament in 1982 and 1986, punching above their weight each time.
From Reykjavik to Praia, these nations remind the world that football doesn't belong only to the powerhouses. Whether it’s Cape Verde’s fresh breakthrough or Iceland’s fairytale journey each of these teams embodies the sport’s global spirit that talent, belief and unity can take even the smallest countries to the grandest stage of them all.
In the next year World Cup 48 teams will play co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. Out of these 43 spots will be filled through continental qualifying tournaments. Another two will be secured through intercontinental playoffs featuring six teams which is scheduled for March. The three host countries have already qualified for the tournament.
Qualified countries:
United States, Mexico, Canada (automatically as hosts)
Africa - Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia
Asia - Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Uzbekistan
Oceania - New Zealand
South America - Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay.
