Cape Verde has made history as the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout stage of the men’s World Cup, and their fairy-tale journey continues as they prepare to face Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
This archipelago of 10 islands off Africa’s west coast, with a population of around 525,000 and a history as a Portuguese colony until 1975, secured their place in the round of 16. Cape Verde finished second in Group H after a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia and will meet Argentina in Miami on July 3.
They are the third least populous country ever to qualify for the World Cup and now stand out as by far the smallest nation to advance to the knockout rounds.
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