THE BLUE SHARKS MAKE THEIR DEBUT TODAY AT THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP AGAINST SPAIN

Fifty years after independence, Bubista’s players are realizing their dream of playing on the world’s biggest soccer stage, and a tough match lies ahead against one of the world’s most powerful teams, Spain.

In an interview with RFI, head coach Pedro Brito “Bubista” assured that the national team is “in high spirits” and ready to represent Cape Verde “with dignity, professionalism, and a spirit of brotherhood.”

Bubista said that within the group there is “a feeling of great pride and excitement.”

Qualification means a lot to the Cape Verdean people

“This qualification means a lot to our people. I often say that we are a small country, geographically speaking, but with great dignity, hard work, and an enormous capacity for resilience. This presence at the World Cup makes the whole world look at Cape Verde and recognize our strength. We are a people passionate about soccer. Cape Verdeans, both on the islands and in the diaspora, are very pleased with this achievement. It is a feeling of immense pride in everything we have achieved and in all the players who believed in this project from the start,” he emphasized.

Bubista also noted that the demands for this afternoon’s match will be “naturally high-level,” and regarding the three matches in this initial phase, he warned that the Blue Sharks will face major opponents on the global soccer stage.

COMPETITIVE SPIRIT

“It’s up to us to do our part: to be tactically organized, disciplined, and competitive. We also have our own strengths. We will strive to be mentally strong to face the challenges the matches will certainly present. We will face all opponents with dignity, confidence, and without fear,” he said regarding today’s match against Spain.

Regarding participation in the World Cup, Bubista said that the Blue Sharks have the ambition and desire “to do great things” and promises an organized team, with discipline and, “above all, mental strength.”

Message to Cape Verdeans

When asked, Bubista left the following message for Cape Verdeans:

“I ask that you continue to believe in the national team, support it, and, above all, maintain the unity that has always characterized us. One of the most beautiful things about this qualification was precisely the unity of our people, both inside and outside the country. Therefore, I ask for your trust and that you enjoy this World Cup.

For our part, we will do everything to ensure that Cape Verdeans feel proud of the way we will represent the country in this competition.”

Next up is Uruguay on the 21st

After today’s opening match, the Blue Sharks will travel to Miami, where they will face Uruguay on Sunday, the 21st, at 9 p.m.

In the final match of the group stage, the national team travels to Texas, where, on the 26th, they will face Saudi Arabia in Houston at 11 p.m.

The top two teams from each of the 12 groups, as well as the eight best third-place teams, will advance to the knockout stage.

The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.