Tampa may have been left out when it came to hosting games, but one of the biggest (and best) stories from the 2026 FIFA World Cup is being written around the corner from Raymond James Stadium, anyway.
When Cabo Verde (AKA Cape Verde) announced it was making the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ training facility in Tampa its headquarters for the World Cup, it was a nice story about one of the tournament’s surprise qualifiers. Now, the country with a population of around 500,000 has become arguably the story of the tournament as the first-timers are unbeaten through two group matches, tying historic soccer giants Spain (0-0) and Uruguay (2-2) in back-to-back games.
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In the process, Cabo Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha, has become a sensation, rocketing from 15,000 Instagram followers just 10 days ago to now more than 15 million, giving hope to middle-aged men everywhere.
The result of it all is that what was expected to be a quick stay in Tampa now looks like it could be extended into July. The Blue Sharks have one game left in their group round robin, and it’s against the “easiest” of their three opponents by FIFA ranking, as they take on Saudi Arabia in Houston on Friday, June 26.
A win against Saudi Arabia would guarantee Cabo Verde advancing to the knockout stage, while even a draw would give them an almost-certain chance at advancing, as well. According to The Athletic’s bracket simulator, Cape Verde has a 67% chance overall of making it to the Round of 32. A draw comes with 99% percent certainty of advancing, according to their metrics, though a loss would drop their odds down to 3%. If you’re pulling for the Blue Sharks, Spain defeating Uruguay this Friday night would go a long way in setting Cabo Verde up for success.
One interesting note was pointed out by Adam Williams of GRV Media. If Cabo Verde advances to knockouts, its soccer federation would receive an additional $11 million, at least. That’s transformational for a soccer network in a country of 500,000 people. For a frame of reference, that’s roughly 0.3% of the country’s entire GDP. The country’s president even went on NPR to discuss the impact this run is having for the country and its visibility.
While it’s Cabo Verde’s first World Cup appearance, it shouldn’t be a shock that they’re doing well. They’re playing good football against some of the world’s top teams. They clinched one of the 48 spots in this year’s World Cup by finishing as the top team in Group D of CAF World Cup Qualifying. They romped with five wins in five games, taking down the favorites Cameroon in the process.
At a minimum, the Cinderella run has at least five more days. But the way things are going, Cabo Verde may be joining us for fireworks on the Riverwalk in July. As a reminder, Cabo Verde’s training in Tampa is closed to the public.
