Before the 2026 World Cup, many critics of FIFA's expansion pointed to teams like Cape Verde and Curaçao as evidence that the tournament had become too big. The expectation was simple: these small nations would arrive, lose three games, and go home. Two matchdays later, reality looks very different.
Cape Verde and Curaçao have already collected three points between them, scored three goals, and remain alive in the race for the knockout stage. More importantly, they've made life miserable for every opponent they've faced.
Cape Verde opened their campaign by holding Spain to a goalless draw. Spain dominated possession, completed hundreds of passes, and still couldn't find a way past 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha.
A few days later, Cape Verde did it again. Uruguay, a team packed with players from Europe's top leagues, needed a late goal just to rescue a 2-2 draw.
Curaçao's story has been equally impressive. After a heavy defeat against Germany, many expected them to collapse. Instead, they responded with one of the defensive performances of the tournament, holding Ecuador to a 0-0 draw. Goalkeeper Eloy Room produced 15 saves, one of the highest totals ever recorded at a World Cup, turning what looked like a guaranteed Ecuadorian victory into a historic point for Curaçao.
What's striking is that neither team relies on luck.
Both sides are organized, disciplined, physically competitive, and extremely difficult to break down. They defend deep when necessary, but they are also capable of hurting opponents in transition. Bigger nations have discovered that playing against Cape Verde or Curaçao is not much different from facing any well-drilled European or South American side.
Perhaps the most surprising development is the attention surrounding their goalkeepers.
Vozinha's heroics against Spain became one of the most talked-about stories of the opening week. Then Eloy Room stole the spotlight with his record-setting performance against Ecuador. For several days, football media seemed more interested in discussing these two goalkeepers than many of the tournament's biggest stars.
That may be the strongest argument in favor of the expanded World Cup. Cape Verde and Curaçao were supposed to lower the level of the competition. Instead, they have added something every tournament needs: unpredictability.
- Spain dropped points.
- Uruguay dropped points.
- Ecuador dropped points.
And two nations with a combined population of less than one million people proved that they belong on football's biggest stage.
Published by Patrick Jane
22.06.2026