Cape Verde Could Face India on October 6 Following a Historic 2026 World Cup

The Cape Verde National Team may return to the field in October for a new international match, this time against India. According to information published by the Indian newspaper India Today, the friendly match is tentatively scheduled for October 6, 2026, although it has not yet been officially confirmed by the respective federations.

The potential match comes just a few weeks after Cape Verde’s historic participation in the 2026 World Cup, where the Blue Sharks garnered international attention with a campaign that included a scoreless draw against Spain, the eventual world champion, and a competitive match against Argentina in the round of 16, which was decided only in extra time.

For Cape Verde, a potential friendly against India would represent yet another opportunity to keep the national team competitive following its first-ever appearance in the final stage of a World Cup.

The game would also pit the Blue Sharks against a team from a different continent, in a matchup that could help the Cape Verdean team prepare for its upcoming international fixtures.

The match is scheduled for the September/October FIFA international window. According to the Indian press, October 6 is currently the most likely date for the match. However, there is still no official confirmation that the game will take place.

India has already confirmed one of the biggest matches in its recent history: the clash with Brazil, scheduled for October 3, at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) decided to withdraw the national team from the first edition of the FIFA ASEAN Cup in order to play the match against Brazil and use the international window to organize other friendlies. Cape Verde and Iran have emerged as possible opponents for India.

If the match against Cape Verde is confirmed for October 6, India could face two top-tier international teams just three days apart.

According to India Today, Kolkata and Kochi are the two cities being considered to host the match between India and Cape Verde. The Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi are among the venues under consideration.

The choice may also depend on logistics related to the match between India and Brazil. A five-member delegation from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) recently visited Kolkata to inspect Salt Lake Stadium and assess the condition of the stadium and hospitality facilities ahead of the October 3 match.

The possible invitation to face Cape Verde comes at a time when the Cape Verdean national team has gained greater international exposure following its participation in the 2026 World Cup.

The Blue Sharks’ campaign has put the country in the global soccer spotlight and made Cape Verde a particularly interesting opponent for national teams looking to test themselves against an African team of international caliber.

If made official, the match on October 6 will be yet another opportunity for Cape Verde to capitalize on the momentum created by its historic World Cup campaign and continue to test itself against opponents from different regions of the global soccer scene.

For now, however, the game remains to be officially confirmed.