Cabo Verde is joining a small and exclusive club of football countries: ones debuting on the world's biggest stage. Jordan is also in the midst of the magic of playing in his first FIFA World Cup, alongside them. There's one of the most heartwarming storylines for the 2026 FIFA World Cup that will be shared by the U.S. and Canada, both of which are making their first appearance on the biggest football stage of all time, long before the knockouts even take place.
It is a World Cup for Cabo Verde, an archipelago of little more than 500 000 on the west coast of Africa, and Jordan, a Middle Eastern kingdom of almost 11 million with all the feels of being a serious footballing power. Their qualification journeys are now a piece of football folklore, and their involvement in the tournament has already created the all-important moments which grace the headlines. It's a signpost beyond the two countries involved: the new format with 48 teams has delivered on its promise to give everyone another chance at entering the World Cup.
Cabo Verde's journey to World Cup glory started in the tough qualification competition for the African Football Confederation, in which the Blue Sharks, or Tubarões Azuis as they are known, dominated Group D, defeating Cameroon, the continental powerhouse. Led by the resolute and disciplined , who was also a veteran of the Cabo Verdean national team in the 1990s and early 2000s, the team was characterized by its resilience and tactical approach.
The qualifying campaign was in the form of ten games played in a home-and-away round robin series with the group winner receiving a direct qualification to the finals. Cabo Verde began with a deadlock with Angola but then found their flow with away games against Eswatini and Mauritius and a vital home triumph over Libya. The biggest blow they faced was in June 2024 when they were beaten 4-1 by Cameroon, but Cabo Verde bounced back and kept their group stage upbeat. In October 2025, the campaign's highlight was a dramatic 3-3 draw against Libya, which set the tone for the rest of the season.
Cabo Verde booked a place in the world finals on October 13, 2025, with a 3-0 win over Eswatini and secured their first spot in Group D over African giants Cameroon. The game was a tense affair with the opening of the scoring window in Cabo Verde following the break, Dailon Livramento, Willy Semedo and Stopira all finding the back of the net and making for happy times at Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde. They are 100-0 in five home games and haven't allowed a goal at home all season.That 5-game home-game shutout – and a 100% record – were key to their campaign.
When you look at the number of people involved, it's a massive achievement. This marks Cabo Verde's second smallest population to qualify for the World Cup, behind only Iceland in Russia 2018, and the smallest by land area, beating Trinidad and Tobago, who were the smallest in Germany 2006. On the final day of qualification, Cabo Verde's 600,000 people all took the day off to cheer for their side.
Jordan's qualification tale is filled with sadness, but also with great joy — 40 years of waiting for something that finally came true. Jordan's first World Cup qualifying effort was in 1986 when they were beaten by Iraq on their way to Mexico. It was 40 years later that Al-Nashama ("The Brave Ones") finally broke through under head coach, the Moroccan.
Jordan topped their group that included Saudi Arabia in the second round of AFC qualification matches, finishing just behind South Korea in the third round to avoid the various play-off stages that ensued. Jordan went unbeaten, winning four of eight in Group B in that pivotal third round, finishing just six points behind South Korea.
The qualification was officially confirmed on June 5, 2025, in an impressive manner. Ali Olwan had his hat trick and Jordan cruised to a 3-0 victory over Oman while South Korea hammered Iraq 2-0 in a game played at the same time. The success was in addition of historical significance as the first time an Arab team had signed a coach, an Arab teacher after years of spending money on foreign coaches but with little results. Jordan's turn to shine came as part of a winning streak featuring finals performances at the 2023 Asian Cup and the 2025 Arab Cup.
Cabo Verde's squad is a mix of experienced leaders and up-and-coming talent from throughout the Cabo Verdean expatriate community in Europe.
Captain Ryan Mendes is still the team's ticking time bomb. At 36, he has now worn 96 caps for his 16-year international career, since making his debut in 2010, and is one of the most experienced players in the squad for now, playing in the second tier of Türkiye with Iğdır. His 22 international goals are solid and he has much more to offer than just his goals, as he has often been the link between generations and made younger and foreign-born players feel at home in the national team.
During the qualifying period, Forward Dailon Livramento proved to be the most powerful weapon in the team's arsenal. He tallied four goals in the qualification campaign for Cabo Verde and defender Diney, midfielder Jamiro Monteiro and winger Willy Semedo each had two goals.
Winger Jovane Cabral brings another element to the game, on the attacking end of play. The 27-year-old who previously played for Sporting Lisbon and currently features at Estrela Amadora in Portugal's top flight brings to the squad both width and ability to break down tight defence, and his directness and creativity are one of the main attacking avenues for the team.
has already become a World Cup legend. His penalty stoppers against Spain lit up the internet and defender Roberto Lopes aka "Pico" supplied the defensive backbone that helped the team qualify.
Jordan's team features cast-iron European level attacking players with a solid and seasoned defensive unit.
The player that best represents Jordan's development both on and off the field is midfielder Musa Al-Taamari. He transferred to Europe in 2018 with APOEL Nicosia, but his big break came in 2023 when he joined Montpellier in Ligue 1, where he made his mark off the heels of Jordan's exceptional campaign to the 2024 AFC Asian Cup final. He has 23 goals in 76 appearances, and was a star player in Jordan's historic run to a first-ever Asian Cup final in 2023.
Jordan's most lethal attack threat is striker Ali Olwan. He is Jordan's No. 2 all-time goal scorer, having scored 27 goals in 58 games. He was the third top scorer in Asian qualification for the World Cup with nine goals and a hat-trick in the deciding qualification match against Oman. He backed that up with the goal that made history as Jordan's first-ever World Cup strike, against Austria.
Yazan Al-Arab is Jordan's stalwart in central defence with 69 caps having played regularly in the midfield since 2017. Young player Odeh Al-Fakhouri is the next generation Jordan will turn to as the current side moves into the next phase, while Noor Al-Rawabdeh brings the midfield balance that Jordan has been lacking with his regular appearances for the national team and his consistent appearances in the West Asian leagues.
| Statistic | Cabo Verde | Jordan |
| FIFA World Ranking (June 2026) | 67th | 63rd |
| Qualification matches played | 10 (CAF Group D) | 8 (AFC Third Round) |
| Wins | 7 | 4 |
| Draws | 2 | 4 |
| Losses | 1 | 0 |
| Group finish | 1st of 6 | 2nd of 6 |
| Top scorer (qualifying) | Dailon Livramento (4 goals) | Ali Olwan (9 goals) |
| World Cup tournament status | 1st appearance | 1st appearance |
The numbers paint two distinct qualifying pictures: Cabo Verde won all of their group matches, losing just one out of three, with Jordan playing a more subdued and cagey game through one of Asia's most competitive qualifying groups, unbeaten in the third round.
There are a few moments that have marked both countries' paths towards the pinnacle of football.
Cabo Verde's big win came on the final day, when they toppled Eswatini 3-0 to take first place over Cameroon, who have eight World Cup final appearances to their name, more than any other African side. Cabo Verde's victory over the world-strong Cameroon is one of the biggest upsets in the group stages of the continent, despite its small population compared to that of Cameroon.
Jordan's defining moment was their 3-0 victory over Oman on June 5th, 2025, and the result came on the heels of Korea Republic's win of their own against Iraq to ensure their place in the history books.
The initial World Cup shock thereafter. The two debutants were both responsible for moments which will be remembered in the annals of football history from the start of the tournament. Goalkeeper Vozinha's heroics helped the Cabo Verdeans secure their first-ever World Cup point with a 0-0 draw against title contender Spain in their opening game, despite Spain's dominance of possession for much of the game. Jordan meanwhile made their own history in a 3-1 defeat to Austria with Ali Olwan's brilliant individual goal in the 50th minute becoming Jordan's first World Cup goal.
Cabo Verde tend to play in a tight formation with an emphasis on protecting themselves as they try to find an opportunity to play fast and with individual brilliance in the flanks. They have never conceded in their home qualifiers, reflecting a well disciplined and well organized backline. Set pieces had been a regular source of goals and their strategy to Spain, who had taken to sitting deep, restricting space and relying on their goalkeeper, had demonstrated a side who could take pressure at length. The downside of this is that they have a relatively lower goal output level but have more opposition, thus their attacking capabilities tends to come out best from opponents of similar or lower standards.
Jordan played the ball more directly with Al-Taamari, with Jamal Sellami preferring a transition style approach, combining the players between teams to pose threats on the counter-attack. They were excellent with the ball in their own half when they opened up over Austria with the same number of shots and scores on target as Austria, but they also revealed their weaknesses in set-piece situations and in breakneck concentration, as the own goal and stoppage-time penalty cost them. Where Jordan are vulnerable in defence, they are at their most vulnerable in their game-management moments late in games, with straight and steady shape and experienced players such as Yazan Al-Arab.
The advances of both countries have far-reaching implications.
In the case of African football, Cabo Verde's feat proves that size and pedigree were no longer requirements for qualification to the World Cup. In 1975, Cabo Verde became the last west African nation to gain independence; ten years after that, the national side joined FIFA, with poor pitches, few resources, and a squad based largely on a scattered expatriate population. With the help of FIFA's development programmes, their development is a blueprint for other small federations in the continent.
Jordan's selection for the Asian and Arab football competition is being called a turning-point. It reminds us that victories in World Cups aren't a matter of historically strong sides or huge budgets, and that underdog countries can rise through a proper structure, a clear vision and patient development. Moreover, it came with an upswing for the region in general as this World Cup is the first to bring together eight countries from the Arab world for a common tournament.
A handful of players from each nation carry genuine potential to surprise global audiences.
Jovane Cabral (Cabo Verde) has explosive one-on-one skills that can cause problems for defenders that aren't used to dealing with a winger of his unpredictable nature, especially in a game where they will have to find something from a small amount of possession.
Ali Olwan (Jordan) has proved himself in the biggest of the big occasions, netting Jordan's first World Cup goal in his debut match. He's a constant threat to create space in transition, with his movement and finishing instincts.
The top scorer for Dailon Livramento (Cabo Verde) in qualifying has already made a mark on the World Cup and is now ready to make a bigger one as the competition continues.
Musa Al-Taamari (Jordan) has the most individual quality in the squad and has clear Ligue 1 experience, and is the most likely to find himself in a situation where he produces something special against bigger teams.
Cabo Verde are in Group H with debutants Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia and Jordan are in Group J with Argentina, Algeria and Austria, both of whom have been given tough competition. With the teams facing each other at the level they will be, it will be a very tough road to go to a round-robin stage, but with the eight best third-place teams added to the expanded format, there is some hope if they have good results elsewhere.
Perhaps their best chance is against Saudi Arabia, a team that is more on their level, and a repeat of their tough but winning against Spain would be a nice accomplishment, no matter the score. After their first loss to Austria, Jordan are on a difficult path ahead with tough late games to come against Algeria and Argentina, the reigning world champions, but a shot-for-shot match-up against Austria shows they will not be easy out.
Cabo Verde and Jordan were both considered underdogs, and were both priced as longshots entering the tournament. Gone are those markets that have been adjusted since the group stage began based on the outcomes.
Group-stage chances: Cabo Verde have been dealt a blow to their chances of making the progress, even minor, thanks to the narrow defeat at the hands of Spain, which they matched in shots on goal, while Jordan's narrow defeat at Austria may indicate that bookmakers still consider them competitive enough to grab points against Algeria.
Value bets: If Cabo Verde doesn't lose to Saudi Arabia they may be a value bet on an even matchup on paper. But it's not just the anytime-goal-scoring; Jordan's ability to find the net at this level already has appeal for him in back-to-Ali-Olwan trades.
Golden Boot dark horse candidates: Both countries have no real contenders in their group stages but Ali Olwan's impressive attack form (nine goals) and early World Cup goal makes him a name to watch on league goalscoring specials.
The team they could upset: Cabo Verde are a live underdog against Saudi Arabia, as Jordan's set-piece limitations make them a risky back-to-back against Algeria's attacking ability.
Outright odds, group-stage markets, and in-play betting are some of the markets that are provided by sports betting and online casino sites, such as Sports OKBet, which has been among the top sports betting and online casino platforms in the Philippines, during the World Cup. Like any form of sports betting, bettors should only risk the money they can afford to lose and should only bet if they have fun doing it.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first tournament to be played in the expanded 48-team format, playing in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 through July 19. This year's World Cup will see Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan all making their debut, with Qatar also progressing to become the first country to advance through the stages of the World Cup by being automatically qualified as hosts for the 2022 edition.
It's also the first Arab tournament that all eight countries (Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia) have made together, as compared to four countries in 2018 and 2022.
Group H is being hosted in Atlanta, Miami and Houston while Group J is split between San Francisco Bay Area Stadium and Texas. The group phase continues until the end of June and the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams will go through to the round of 32.
One of the early shocks of the tournament came in the first round clash between Cabo Verde and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Cabo Verde managed to keep European champions Spain scoreless in a deadlock despite Spain being closely in control of many situations.
Goalkeeper Vozinha stood out for his performance, making a series of saves and becoming an instant social media star. The first match of the World Cup was a historic one for Cabo Verde as they earned their first-ever World Cup point.
Jordan lost their first match of the World Cup at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara to Austria, 3-1, to earn their first World Cup victory in 36 years.
Romano Schmid found the net in the 21st minute with a good curling shot from outside the box, followed by an Ali Olwan header off a corner in the next minute. Jordan found the net in the 50th minute as he carved into from the left flank, and put in a powerful shot over the Austrian keeper, Jordan's first World Cup tally.
Austria levelled the score in the 76th minute when Jordan defender Yazan Al-Arab played a corner ball into his own net before Arnautovic followed it up with a penalty after VAR referee Thomas Stichelmiester spotted a handball. Half-time substitute Arnautovic was the difference as he forced the own goal and then scored the late penalty. Jordan matched Austria with 4 shots on target (4 apiece) and 11 shots (11 apiece) despite the loss, indicating that they were competitive the entire game.
One of the most significant stories of this expanded World Cup is that of Cabo Verde and Jordan. Both countries had to overcome a number of close calls, scarce resources and footballing history to reach the sport's pinnacle – and both have delivered moments that will be remembered for generations, whether it was the heroics of Vozinha against Spain or the historic goal by Ali Olwan to Austria.
It's too soon to say whether either team will be able to overcome the odds and make it to the knockout round, but their inclusion in the field has already changed the discussion regarding the odds for smaller football nations in the new 48-team format. As the group stage progresses, the football community, from fans to non-fans to the bettors, should continue to closely monitor the two debutants, and for those keeping up with the betting line throughout the games, websites such as should be a valuable tool to stay on top of odds and make educated, responsible wagers.
Yes. The Cap Verdish team won its first World Cup qualification in 2026, Spain 0-0 in their first game.
Yes. Jordan are making their debut in 2026 after earning qualification to the World Cup final stage after a 3-0 away win against Oman on June 5, 2025.
Cabo Verde have won seven, drawn two and lost one of their ten games in CAF Group D, four points ahead of Cameroon, who had six wins, two draws and two defeats.
Jordan finished second in their AFC third round group table, unbeaten with four wins and four draws from eight games, after South Korea beat Iraq, paving the way for their trip to Qatar.
Cabo Verde have several stand-outs, such as captain Ryan Mendes, top qualifying scorer Dailon Livramento and goalkeeper Vozinha. Midfielder Musa Al-Taamari and Ali Olwan, the attacker who scored Jordan's debut World Cup goal, are Jordan's key men.
Given the strength of their teams, it's a tough one to make, but both have proved competitive (Cabo Verde, who are drawing with Spain, and Jordan, who have equalled Austria in shots, are competing) and eight third-place teams are also in the running, and that makes for a big chance.
