Cape Verde's World Cup debut represents one of the tournament's greatest underdog stories, with Telmo Arcanjo insisting they can surprise people again when facing Spain in their opener. The attacking midfielder points to their higher ranking than Ghana and their impressive Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final appearances in 2013 and 2024 as evidence of their quality.

Arcanjo attributes their success to unity, despite having players born across Europe and America. While twelve squad members were born in Cape Verde itself, six emerged from the Netherlands, three from France, and others from Portugal, Ireland, and the USA. Coach Bubista's 4-2-3-1 system maximizes this diverse talent pool.

The qualification campaign culminated in emotional scenes against Eswatini, where a 3-0 victory secured their World Cup place. Arcanjo, who plays for Vitoria Guimaraes, recently won the Taca da Liga with his club. His older brother also played for Cape Verde, making this achievement deeply personal.

Facing Spain and Uruguay presents enormous challenges, but Arcanjo believes their collective spirit gives them a genuine chance. Cape Verde aims to create historic moments and showcase their football quality on the world stage, representing not just a nation but its global diaspora.