Cape Verde - the smallest country in the World Championship: how the team achieved a historic event.

According to The Sun: Cape Verde is the smallest country to qualify for the next World Championship. The celebrations could be heard even a thousand kilometers away in North America, where the competitions will take place.

Even before the team's victory in the decisive match, the entire country declared a public holiday.

The whole nation, which counts 530,000 people, celebrated the triumph of the team 'The Blue Sharks' over Eswatini with a score of 3:0 in the decisive match.

The capital city, Praia, turned into a celebration city: the residents filled the streets and welcomed their heroes.

Cape Verde joined FIFA in 1986, but could not participate in the World Cup qualifiers until 2002 due to financial difficulties.

There is no professional football league in the country, and the players representing Cape Verde play abroad.

A burst of joy

This unique team relied on players from abroad, including defender Roberto Carlos 'Pico' Lopes.

'We are ready to play against anyone at the World Championship, we don't care. Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, England - it doesn't matter,' said 33-year-old Pico after the match.

'The most important thing is the qualification. We are here because of our performance.'

During the celebrations, the players joyfully jumped into the crowds after Willy Semedo's second goal, and Stopira took off his shirt and ran to the fans after the third goal.

The emotions took over the stadium, and Pico remarked: 'The fans were incredible, it lasted from an hour before the match until an hour after.'

Cape Verde could have secured its journey to the finals in the USA, Mexico, and Canada after the match in Libya, but the final ended in a 3-3 draw, so they had to win at home against the recently assembled team from Eswatini on Monday.

It was an epic match at the Pele Stadium, which accommodates 15,000 spectators.

Before the important match, fans stood quietly in line under the blazing sun, waiting for entry, without alcoholic beverages and official merchandise.

The official language in the country is Portuguese, but the majority of the population speaks the Cape Verdean Creole language.

Cape Verde gained independence in 1975 after a bloody guerrilla war and has since become one of the most developed and democratic countries in Africa.

'Everything means everything'

A public holiday was declared to allow residents to support the 'Blue Sharks'. FIFA was criticized for increasing the number of teams in the next tournament from 32 to 48, which, however, opens new opportunities for the development of football in various parts of the world.

Pico noted: 'It means everything, it is what we have dreamed of since childhood. Achieving this in front of our fans - incredible.'

The success of the team heavily depends on the talented players with Cape Verdean roots. Fourteen of the 25 players of the national team were born outside the islands.

Although most players do not plan to play in major leagues, this well-organized collective could become a surprise on the international stage.

It doesn't matter which club the comment belongs to, the most important thing is that the 'Blue Sharks' are ready to fight at the World Championship.