Cape Verde head coach Bubista says his side could not have asked for a better challenge at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being drawn against Spain, insisting the African debutants are “lucky” to face one of the strongest teams in world football.
While many nations entering a major tournament for the first time usually hope for favourable opponents, the former defender believes testing themselves against elite countries is the perfect way to measure their progress on football’s biggest stage.
“When we qualified, I said that we wanted to play the best teams at the World Cup, and we were lucky to get Spain, who are [near the] top of the FIFA ranking; Uruguay, who’ve been world champions twice; and former Asian Cup winners Saudi Arabia. We feel very relaxed.”
Bubista
The island nation will make its historic World Cup debut in the United States, Canada and Mexico after an impressive qualification campaign that denied Cameroon, becoming one of Africa’s surprise representatives at the tournament.
Cabo Verde have been handed a daunting Group H assignment alongside European giants Spain, two-time world champions Uruguay and former Asian champions Saudi Arabia, but Bubista says his players are approaching the challenge with calmness and belief rather than fear.
From a Small Village to the World Stage
The 55-year-old reflected on how his passion for football began in the small village of Povoacao Velha on the island of Boa Vista, where access to the game was limited during his childhood. “I was very, very young, and back then there was only one TV set in my village, Povoacao Velha, on my home island of Boa Vista, and it wasn’t easy to get to,” Bubista recalled.
The former Cabo Verde centre-back said memories of past World Cups and iconic footballers inspired his lifelong connection to the game. “I remember Lothar Matthaus from back then and players of the calibre of Eder and Falcao of Brazil,” he said. “I remember them well. And then you had Diego Maradona, of course. Those are my World Cup memories.”
Bubista explained that football became deeply rooted in his daily life from a very young age and has remained the driving force behind his coaching philosophy and the mentality he has tried to instill in his squad. “It’s been part of me ever since I was little, ever since I was a child, when my mother used to make balls from our socks,” he explained. “My whole day revolves around football and it’s brought a positive energy for our players and our fans. We believe we can always do better, and that’s what we’re doing.”
The reigning CAF Men’s Coach of the Year believes Cape Verde’s qualification carries significance beyond the country itself, describing it as a source of pride for the African continent and proof that smaller nations can compete with football’s traditional powers.
“The World Cup is an incredible opportunity for our people and Africa as a whole. We’re a small country and we’re setting an example, showing that no matter how tiny you are, you can achieve something big by making it to the World Cup.”
Bubista
Despite the difficult group, Bubista maintained that facing football heavyweights was exactly what his team wanted from the tournament.
The Blue Sharks will open their campaign against Spain on June 15 before taking on Uruguay six days later and Saudi Arabia on June 26 in what promises to be one of the most competitive groups of the tournament.
Bubista also credited the nation’s remarkable rise to a transformation in mentality within the squad, insisting belief and unity helped them overcome more experienced African sides during qualification.
The Blue Sharks stunned several established teams on their road to the World Cup, including Cameroon, to secure a maiden appearance at the global showpiece despite the country’s population of just over 500,000 people.
For Bubista, however, the World Cup is not simply about participation. It is about proving that fearless ambition can bridge the gap between football’s giants and nations often overlooked on the global stage.
And for that reason, the Cape Verde coach believes drawing Spain was not bad luck at all, but exactly the opportunity his team had hoped for.
READ ALSO: Ghanaians Saw Through Empty Promises Ahead Of Elections — Awuah
