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At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the world's football giants were struggling to assert their dominance, Cape Verde – a small island nation in the Atlantic Ocean – wrote an emotional chapter in history. Not only did it create a sensation on the pitch with its courageous spirit against powerhouses like Spain and Uruguay, but Cape Verde also piqued the curiosity of millions of travelers with its mysterious volcanic landscape.
From thrilling football matches to pristine landscapes where the desert meets the azure sea, Cape Verde is poised to become one of the most sought-after destinations on the world travel map in 2026.
"Fairytales" on the football field.
The World Cup always produces stories that transcend football. When Cameroon beat Argentina in 1990, the world began hearing about Roger Milla. When Senegal defeated France in 2002, Africa stepped onto a new stage. And at the 2026 World Cup taking place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the smallest nation in the tournament's history is doing something nobody dared to imagine: Cape Verde, an archipelago of 570,000 people in the Atlantic, is playing football as if they don't know they're in the weakest group.
Cape Verde made a strong impression during this year's World Cup, fighting with courage, scoring goals, and continuing to earn points against a formidable opponent.
They held Spain – former world champions – to a draw in a match where the 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper became an impenetrable wall. When they faced Uruguay, another team that had lifted the World Cup trophy, Cape Verde didn't collapse as expected. They took the lead with an astonishingly accurate free-kick, scoring their first World Cup goal in history, and then, even when trailing, calmly capitalized on an opponent's mistake to equalize 2-2.
Two matches without a loss. For a nation making its first appearance on the world's biggest stage, that's no longer luck – it's a testament to character.
A paradise destination, where the desert meets the ocean.
Every time a smaller team causes a sensation at the World Cup, searches for that country explode. In 2018, Croatia reached the final and travel bookings surged. Iceland made its first World Cup appearance and all of Europe rushed to book flights to Reykjavik. Cape Verde is in that phase, right now.
Answering the question "Where is Cape Verde?" isn't as simple as many people think. It's not an easy place to find on a map of Africa. The Republic of Cabo Verde – its official name – is a volcanic archipelago of 10 large islands located in the Atlantic Ocean, about 570 km west of the coast of Senegal.
There is no land. No neighboring country. Just the ocean surrounding you and a sunny sky for almost 350 days a year.
This archipelago of 570,000 people in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean has become a destination that millions of people around the world are exploring for the first time.
The Portuguese discovered this uninhabited archipelago in the 15th century and transformed it into a vital transit point on the maritime route connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Nearly 500 years as a Portuguese colony before gaining independence in 1975, Cape Verde now boasts a unique Creole culture, where Portuguese is the official language but locals speak Kriolu among themselves; and where the domestic population is only around half a million, but the expatriate communities in the United States, Portugal, and the Netherlands are even larger.
Ten islands, ten different stories.
What sets Cape Verde apart from all other tropical islands is its incredible diversity within an area of just 4,033 km². Each island is a world of its own; no two are alike.
Sal is the name most known to international tourists. This tranquil island boasts Santa Maria Beach with its fine white sand and turquoise waters, a surfing and diving paradise that attracts European and American visitors year-round. Sal has so much sunshine that locals say rain is something to be recorded in the calendar. The steady trade winds from November to June make it one of the best kiteboarding spots in Africa.
Its isolation and unique cultural identity are what put Cape Verde on the list of places you must visit at least once in your lifetime.
The Cabo Verde archipelago comprises 10 volcanic islands, each with its own unique landscape and experience.
Fogo is a completely different story. This volcanic island is still active, with its peak, Pico do Fogo, reaching 2,829 meters, emitting smoke into the sky. The most recent eruption in 2014-2015 wiped out an entire village on its slopes, but the inhabitants returned to rebuild right on the still-black lava.
Climbing Pico do Fogo is the most impressive trekking experience in the entire archipelago, typically taking 4 to 5 hours up and 2 hours down. From the summit, visitors can see the entire surrounding Atlantic horizon.
Santo Antão attracts nature and trekking enthusiasts with its lush green valleys nestled between sheer cliffs, a landscape that contrasts sharply with the arid deserts of Sal or Boa Vista. Ancient colonial-era trails wind through farms, orchards, and small villages perched on the mountainside. It's an island where many visitors decide to stay a few extra days beyond their planned trip.
Mindelo on the island of São Vicente is known as the cultural capital of Cape Verde. This small port city is where Morna music – a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage – resonates in its seaside bars and restaurants every night. Morna isn't just background music for drinking. It's music that tells of homesickness, of love for one's homeland, and of an unbreakable connection to the sea – the saudade of Cape Verde, to borrow the closest Portuguese word.
Cape Verde is considered one of the safest destinations in Africa, with a low crime rate and no major dangers for tourists – something not every African country can boast.
Looking back, the spirit that the Cape Verde team is displaying at the 2026 World Cup is no different from the characteristics of these islands themselves. They lack vast resources and easy natural advantages, but they compensate with resilience and an unmistakable identity. A 40-year-old goalkeeper saving Spain or a free-kick goal against Uruguay – that's the kind of football played by people who have nothing to lose and everything to prove.
* From January 1, 2026, Vietnamese citizens will no longer be granted visas upon arrival but must apply before departure. Travelers need to register online through the EASE system at least 5 working days before their flight date, with a fee of approximately VND 850,000, plus an entry visa fee of approximately EUR 40, equivalent to VND 1.1 million. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months.
