Cape Verde defied World Cup odds to set up Argentina clash
Debutants Cape Verde face reigning champions Argentina in the last 32 of the World Cup on July 3 in Miami.
Cape Verde. Take your bow. 🇨🇻#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/9YwMwTNosx — CAF (@CAF_Online) June 27, 2026
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AFP Sport breaks down the numbers behind Cape Verde's journey into the knockout rounds and the scale of the task now facing them.
0 - number of appearances at the World Cup before this tournament. Argentina are three-time champions.
67: Cape Verde's FIFA ranking coming into the tournament. Argentina were No 1.
500 000-530 000: Cape Verde's estimated population. Argentina's is about 46 million.
18-2: Number of goals scored by Lionel Messi in World Cup history versus Cape Verde's total.
$920 million: estimated value of Argentina's squad, according to transfermarkt.com. Cape Verde's is worth $62 million.
25.7 per cent: Cape Verde's possession stats in the 0-0 draw with European champions Spain.
17 million: Instagram followers of goalkeeper Vozinha. Before the Spain game he had 56 000.
7: saves made by Vozinha to keep Spain out.
32.9 per cent - the odds from Opta before the tournament on Cape Verde getting out of a group also containing Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
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