Jamiro Monteiro and Cape Verde clinch remarkable 2026 World Cup berth
Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images
With a population of around 525,000, Cape Verde will become the second-smallest nation to compete in a World Cup after clinching a spot in the tournament earlier this week. It is the smallest country to earn a spot in the World Cup since Iceland in 2018.
Cape Verde clinched a World Cup spot with a 3-0 win over Eswatini on Monday, topping Group D in the Confederation of African Football qualifiers. The nine group winners automatically advance to the 48-team tournament.
The Blue Sharks of Cape Verde topped Group D with 23 points, recording seven wins, two draws, and just one loss. They beat out Cameroon for the top spot by four points. Cape Verde’s only loss in the group stage was to Cameroon on June 8, 2024. They won three of their final four qualifiers, including a 1-0 home win over Cameroon, to seal a spot in the World Cup.
"What a historic moment,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino. “Congratulations to everyone in Cape Verde for making it to the FIFA World Cup for the first time. Your flag will fly and your anthem will be heard at the greatest FIFA World Cup ever.
"Your work and your development in football in recent years have been incredible and this is a moment in which your stars will become global and will propel a new generation of football lovers across Cape Verde."
Monday was a historic day in Cape Verde.
Cape Verdeans watched their country qualify for its first World Cup, doing so on home soil. The Cape Verde government declared a “half-day holiday” for its citizens to attend or watch the game at home. Many fans ventured to the Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde on the outskirts of the country’s capital city, Praia, to witness history.
More than 15,000 fans packed the stadium to see their nation defeat Eswatini, 3-0. All three goals came in the second half, with Dailon Rocha Livramento, Willy Semedo, and Stopira scoring.
Cape Verde needed a win or for Cameroon to drop points to qualify through group play. Luckily for them, they got the best of both worlds. Pandemonium ensued when the final whistle sounded, with a celebratory pitch invasion that followed shortly thereafter.
“It means everything,” said Cape Verde defender Roberto Lopes. “Since I was a little boy, and I know it's the same for the guys in the dressing room, since we were all little kids playing football, we dreamed of playing football at the highest stage, and there’s no bigger stage than the World Cup.
“To do this, to be the first Cape Verdean team here, to lift all the people of the nation, to put them on that stage, there’s no better feeling than that.”
One of those players who had been dreaming of playing on the biggest stage since a young age is former Philadelphia Union midfielder Jamiro Monteiro. The 31-year-old earned his 50th cap with Cape Verde in the 3-0 win over Eswatini.
Born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Monteiro was raised by his parents, who immigrated from Cape Verde. Despite not being born or having lived in Cape Verde, Monteiro experienced his family’s culture in the next best place.
Growing up in Rotterdam, Monteiro was introduced to the Cape Verdean lifestyle and soccer at an early age. Almost 25,000 Cape Verdeans live in the Netherlands, with Rotterdam being the hub. Monteiro learned how to play soccer in the streets of Spangen, his neighborhood in West Rotterdam.
While playing for Dutch side Cambuur in 2016, Monteiro received his first Cape Verde National Team call-up. It wouldn’t be till October 2021 when the midfielder would score his first goal for his country in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Monteiro has five goals and an assist in 50 matches for Cape Verde.
Monteiro spent three seasons with the Union and quickly became a fan favorite. The 31-year-old joined on loan from French club FC Metz in 2019. After a successful first stint in Chester, the move was made permanent. Monteiro made 89 appearances for the Union, the most he has made for any club. He scored 12 goals and registered 20 assists in 7,611 minutes played.
The Union lifted its first major trophy, the 2020 Supporters’ Shield, thanks to a strong season from Monteiro. The midfielder had four goals and four assists in 26 games. He also played a big part in the Union reaching the 2021 Concacaf Champions League semifinals, recording two goals and two assists in five matches.
Monteiro was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes before the start of the 2022 season. He spent two years with the Earthquakes and is now back playing in the Netherlands for PEC Zwolle.
The Cape Verde international hopes to join a short list of former Union players who have played in a World Cup match.
*Article also seen on Philadelphiasoccernow.com
