The 2026 FIFA World Cup may have seen Cape Verde's journey end in the round of 32, but the small West African island nation left a lasting impression in this prestigious tournament.
A Unique Recruitment Approach
Before their campaign even began, Cape Verde's national team took an unconventional approach to team assembly. One of their players, Roberto "Pico" Lopes, was invited to join the squad through the professional networking platform LinkedIn. This method is uncommon, as player recruitment typically involves agents or football federations.
Roberto Lopes: From Dublin to the World Stage
Roberto Lopes, a 33-year-old defender, was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, to an Irish mother and a father from Cape Verde. For years, he balanced a regular life as a mortgage advisor in Dublin while playing part-time football with the Bohemians in the Irish league. A decade ago, few could have predicted that Lopes would represent such a small island nation on the grand stage of the World Cup.
A Life-Changing Message
The pivotal moment for Lopes occurred in 2017 when Shamrock Rovers offered him a chance to transition from his office job to professional football. Lopes admitted he was not enjoying his corporate life. Two years later, his career took another unexpected turn. The then-coach of Cape Verde, Rui Águas, discovered that Lopes was eligible for naturalization due to his father's heritage.
Instead of going through traditional channels, Águas reached out to Lopes via LinkedIn. Initially, Lopes overlooked the message for nearly nine months, assuming it was spam. Upon finally translating the message, he found it was a simple inquiry: "We are looking for new players for the Cape Verde squad, would you be interested?" Excited, Lopes responded with enthusiasm.
Achieving Dreams on the World Stage
For Lopes, participating in the World Cup represented an achievement far beyond just playing football. Just days after Cape Verde secured their World Cup spot, Lopes welcomed his first child, Diego, with his wife, Leah. He expressed that every young player's dream is to compete at the highest level, and for him, nothing surpasses the World Cup.
Representing his family and showcasing their name on one of the biggest sporting stages fills Lopes with immense pride. Since his debut in 2019, he has grown into a crucial player for Cape Verde, earning 44 caps with the national team.
Memorable Matches and Strong Defense
Despite exiting the tournament in the round of 32, Cape Verde captivated global attention with their solid defense. Over 19 days, they held three World Cup champions—Spain, Uruguay, and Argentina—without a loss during regular time. The defending champions, Argentina, found themselves pushed to the limit, only securing their place in the round of 16 during extra time.
Overall, Cape Verde's unique approach to recruitment and their impressive performances in the World Cup will be fondly remembered by fans and players alike.
Source: https://tekno.kompas.com/read/2026/07/05/11070077/cerita-unik-timnas-cape-verde-di-piala-dunia-2026-panggil-pemain-via-linkedin
