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Cape Verde, the FIFA World Cup 2026 underdog with unexpected Moroccan Jewish roots

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Cabo Verde, an Atlantic island nation, is emerging as an unexpected underdog in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, holding Uruguay to a 2-2 draw after a 0-0 tie with Spain.
  • The team's surprising performance is drawing attention to the nation's little-known Sephardi Jewish history, with roots tracing back to Moroccan and Gibraltar settlers in the mid-19th century.
  • Coach Pedro Leitão Brito emphasizes that the team's mission extends beyond football, aiming to showcase Cabo Verde's culture, music, history, and identity to the world.

Cabo Verde, a Portuguese-speaking Atlantic island nation off the coast of West Africa, is making an unexpected mark on the 2026 FIFA World Cup stage. With a population of roughly 600,000, the team has achieved remarkable results, holding Uruguay to a 2-2 draw and previously a 0-0 tie against Spain in their first-ever World Cup appearance.

Kevin Pina scored Cabo Verde's inaugural World Cup goal with a free kick from over 30 meters, and substitute Helio Varela secured the equalizer against Uruguay. For a nation smaller than many world capitals, these results signify more than just football achievements; they represent a small island nation forcing its way into the global conversation, celebrated by flag-waving supporters.

Beyond the pitch, Cabo Verde's World Cup journey is shedding light on a little-known chapter of its history: a Sephardi Jewish past. According to the Cape Verde Jewish Heritage Project, Sephardi Jews from Morocco and Gibraltar settled in Cabo Verde in the mid-19th century. They arrived after Portugal abolished the Inquisition and following a trade treaty between Portugal and Britain. Many of these settlers, carrying British passports, traded with Gibraltar and came from Moroccan cities like Tangier, Tetouan, Rabat, and Mogador.

These families, with surnames including Anahory, Benoliel, and Pinto, settled primarily on islands like Santo Antão and Santiago. They played significant roles in commerce, shipping, and administration, becoming important figures in the local economy. While the organized Jewish community eventually faded into Cabo Verdean society through intermarriage and assimilation, descendants often speak with pride of their Jewish ancestors. What remains are personal legacies: cemeteries, surnames, oral histories, and restored gravestones facing the Atlantic, preserving a unique piece of the nation's heritage.

the team’s mission went beyond results and was also about showing the world Cabo Verde’s culture, music, history, supporters, and identity.

— Pedro Leitão Brito (Bubista)Explaining the broader significance of the team's participation in the World Cup.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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