Cape Verde's Joyful Draw Against Spain: A Moment of National Pride

Tue Jun 16 2026 14:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Cape Verdean fans celebrate a 0‑0 draw with Spain in the World Cup opener, calling it the greatest feeling ever.

Cape Verde’s national team, the Blue Sharks, forced a 0‑0 draw against European champions Spain in their World Cup debut, sparking street celebrations in Praia. Thousands of supporters, dressed in blue jerseys, shouted, sang, and waved flags as the match went down to the final whistle. Isa Conceição, a Praia resident, described the moment as the "greatest feeling ever" for a small nation holding a football powerhouse. While the drawing result was technically a shared point, the country’s population celebrated it as a triumph that raised hopes for a historic World Cup journey.

Cape Verde's Joyful Draw Against Spain: A Moment of National Pride

The streets of Praia, Cape Verde’s capital, erupted with the deafening sounds of vuvuzelas, chants and car horns as the Blue Sharks forced a 0‑0 draw with European champions Spain in their World Cup opener.

Although the sides shared the points, for many Cape Verdeans it felt more like a win.

"It was an emotional moment," said Isa Conceição, a supporter who watched the match from a packed fan zone. She, along with thousands of other attendees, wore a blue national team jersey to show pride in their country’s World Cup exploits.

As the final whistle blew, the island nation erupted in wild celebrations with fans dancing to the rhythm of the official World Cup song and chanting the Creole phrase “nos óra dja txiga” – "our time has come."

"Being a small country and being able to achieve such a good result against Spain, a football powerhouse, is the greatest feeling ever," she told the BBC.

Men, women, and children were all dancing in the fan zone, waving national flags, and joyfully chanting. The phrase fit the occasion as the small country, with a population of about half a million, had recently qualified for the World Cup for the first time by edging out continental giant Cameroon.

The squad arrived at the tournament as underdogs, facing two former World Cup winners – Spain and Uruguay – in Group H.

"They played with their hearts," said French‑based visitor Pauline, adding that that was all that mattered. "I thought Spain was going to win, but the speed and energy of Cape Verde were just amazing," added a Congolese supporter visiting the islands for the first time.

Other foreigners also rooted for Cape Verde, the archipelago off the coast of West Africa whose idyllic beaches attract about a million tourists each year.

Across several neighbourhoods, flags were hoisted on windows, balconies, and rooftops, while car horns and cheers echoed through the streets. Many citizens felt the defensive performance against Spain raised hopes that the squad could progress beyond the group stage.

The Blue Sharks will play Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in their next group fixtures to determine their fate. Even if they fail to advance, many Cape Verdeans say they will remain proud of the players’ contribution to lifting the country’s image.

Additional reporting by the BBC's Michel Mvondo in Praia

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