Chongqing - The 2026 FIFA World Cup is in full swing, but no team has captured the imagination quite like Cape Verde. The West African island nation of just over 500,000 people – making its tournament debut – stunned Spain in the opener, scored its first ever World Cup goal against Uruguay, drew 2-2 with the former champions, and then held Saudi Arabia to advance to the Round of 32. The "Blue Sharks" have become a global sensation overnight. In an exclusive interview with iChongqing collaborated with Upstream News, Cape Verdean Football Federation Vice President Paulo Santos shared the decade-long journey behind the miracle, the inspirational story of 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, and his deep appreciation for Chinese-built infrastructure and the local Chinese community.
"We Prepared for Ten Years – Not Just for Fun, But to Compete"
Asked about his feelings watching the historic matches, Santos said: "This is a beautiful moment. Our country reached the World Cup for the first time. We prepared for ten years. After qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations, we decided it was time to start a project to become a World Cup team." "It was very difficult at the beginning – Africa only had five spots. We missed qualification twice by narrow margins, but we never gave up. After COVID, we worked even harder. Now we are here to compete, not just for happiness. We want to show how Cape Verdean football has grown and what we are capable of."
Vozinha: From Near Retirement to National Hero
Goalkeeper Vozinha's story has touched fans worldwide. Before the tournament, few knew his name. Now he has over 17 million followers. "Vozinha has been with the national team for 15 years," Santos said. "He comes from humble beginnings. His lifelong dream was to lead Cape Verde to the World Cup. Two and a half years ago, he almost retired. But we talked, and he decided to stay. Now at 40, he guards our goal at the end of his career – and his performance in the first match was perfect."
Group Photo of Cape Verde Men's National Football Team. (Photo/FIFA)
"A Brazilian media campaign helped his followers explode from 50,000 to 17 million. This is not just about him – the world now knows Cape Verde has a goalkeeper like this. Our federation's social media following grew from 150,000 to nearly 300,000." Santos added: "He is the best example for young players. We have a mix of veterans like Vozinha and youngsters in their early 20s. He will be their idol and benchmark."
A Federation of 10 People Fighting Like Blue Sharks
Despite operating with only eight regular staff members, the federation runs professionally. Santos explained: "The board has 10 people – one president and nine vice presidents. But the operational team is small. For this World Cup, only five of us handle logistics, administration, and equipment – we do everything." "Our budget is perhaps a thousand times smaller than the big European teams. But Cape Verdeans never give up. We fought for independence, for democracy, for nation-building – and we fight in football too. We are the Blue Sharks, and we compete with the world's best in our own way."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino with Cape Verdean Football Federation Vice President Paulo Santos. (Photo/Paulo Santos)
China: Friends and Brothers
Santos highlighted China's contributions: "Our National Stadium was a gift from the Chinese government, built by a Chinese construction company. Even now, a 25-person Chinese team maintains the stadium's lighting and facilities." "China has built two hospitals here, donated large amounts of medical supplies, and sends medical teams regularly. Last Friday, our president dined with the Chinese ambassador and finalized a friendly match between our national teams after the World Cup." "Local Chinese businesspeople supply most of our national team jerseys. They are our friends, our brothers." On people-to-people exchanges, Santos shared a personal story: "My daughter studies in California. Her roommate is a Chinese girl, and she watched our first match with us in Atlanta. To have Chinese fans means so much. If just one percent of Chinese people support us, we have the largest fan base in the world."
Asked whether Cape Verde would consider sending teams to Chongqing – a mega-city of 30 million with a passionate football culture – Santos replied: "If we receive an official invitation, we would be delighted. Men's, women's, U17, U19, U23 – we can send any team with a full coaching staff for technical exchanges."
Regarding advice for China's national team, Santos emphasized sustainability: "Football must be sustainable. Many countries spend heavily on star players but neglect youth academies and long-term planning. China has a huge population. The priority is good scouting, finding the best young talents, placing them in professional training centers where they study and train. In five to ten years, you will have a generation that can compete with the world's best." "We started our youth program ten years ago. Five of our current starters came from that system. There is no magic – only hard work, good planning, and creating the right environment for young players."
(Li Zuoting, as editor of Upstream News, also contributed to the report)