### [2026-06-26](/feed/2026/06/26/index.md) ##### 2026 # In association football, debutants Cape Verde becomes the smallest nation to qualify for the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup after finishing Group H in second place. ### Sources: 1. [AFP via France 24](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260627-why-not-cape-verde-eye-seismic-world-cup-shock-against-argentina) 2. [ESPN](https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49192570/cape-verde-w2026-world-cup-knockout-stage-smallest-nation) ### Changes: 1. Debutant Cape Verde becomes the smallest nation to qualify for the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup. [https:--www.espn.com-soccer-story-_-id-49192570-cape-verde-w2026-world-cup-knockout-stage-smallest-nation] _2026-06-27 05:46:52 (First version)_ 2. Debutant Cape Verde becomes the smallest nation to qualify for the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup. _2026-06-27 13:46:39 (Update)_ 3. In association football, debutant Cape Verde becomes the smallest nation to qualify for the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup after finishing Group H in second place. _2026-07-01 15:45:14 (Update)_ 3. In association football, debutants Cape Verde becomes the smallest nation to qualify for the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup after finishing Group H in second place. _(Current version)_ ### Related: 1. [Four people are reportedly killed in the early morning hours of Wednesday of asphyxiation during celebrations in Mexico City following Mexico's victory against Ecuador in the knockout round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. ](/feed/2026/07/1/four-people-are-reportedly-killed-in-the-early-morning-hours-of-wednesday-of-asphyxiation-during-celebrations-in-mexico.md) _Context: 2026, FIFA World Cup, knockout round_ 2. [In association football, the Mexican soccer team defeats Ecuador, winning their first game in the knockout round of a FIFA World Cup since 1986. ](/feed/2026/06/30/in-association-football-the-mexican-soccer-team-defeats-ecuador-winning-their-first-game-in-the-knockout-round-of-a-fi.md) _Context: 2026, FIFA World Cup, association football_ 3. [In association football, Argentine forward and captain Lionel Messi becomes the first male player to score in seven consecutive FIFA World Cup matches (including matches from the previous edition) after scoring in the team's 3–1 win against Jordan in their final group-stage match. ](/feed/2026/06/27/in-association-football-argentine-forward-and-captain-lionel-messi-becomes-the-first-male-player-to-score-in-seven-cons.md) _Context: 2026, FIFA World Cup, association football_ 4. [In association football, Ivory Coast reaches the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup for the first time after defeating Curaçao 2–0 to place second in Group E. ](/feed/2026/06/25/in-association-football-ivory-coast-reaches-the-knockout-stage-of-a-fifa-world-cup-for-the-first-time-after-defeating-c.md) _Context: 2026, FIFA World Cup, association football, knockout round_ 5. [In association football, South Africa reaches the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup for the first time after defeating South Korea 1–0 in their final group-stage match to finish second in Group A. Co-hosts Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina also advance for the first time after finishing Group B in second place and third place, respectively. ](/feed/2026/06/24/in-association-football-south-africa-reaches-the-knockout-stage-of-a-fifa-world-cup-for-the-first-time-after-defeating.md) _Context: 2026, FIFA World Cup, association football, knockout round_ 6. [In association football, Kevin Pina scores Cape Verde's first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup in a 2–2 draw against Uruguay in the group stage. ](/feed/2026/06/21/in-association-football-kevin-pina-scores-cape-verde-s-first-ever-goal-at-a-fifa-world-cup-in-a-2-2-draw-against-urugua.md) _Context: 2026, Cape Verde, FIFA World Cup, Group H, association football_ 7. [In association football, Argentine forward and captain Lionel Messi becomes the first male player to appear in six FIFA World Cups and joins Germany's Miroslav Klose as the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 16 goals after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina's 3–0 win against Algeria in their opening match. ](/feed/2026/06/16/in-association-football-argentine-forward-and-captain-lionel-messi-becomes-the-first-male-player-to-appear-in-six-fifa.md) _Context: 2026, FIFA World Cup, association football_ 8. [In association football, debutants Cape Verde earn their first-ever World Cup point after drawing 0–0 with Spain. ](/feed/2026/06/15/in-association-football-debutants-cape-verde-earn-their-first-ever-world-cup-point-after-drawing-0-0-with-spain.md) _Context: 2026, Cape Verde, association football_ 9. [In association football, the 2026 FIFA World Cup consisting of 48 national teams for the first time begins with matches in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. An opening ceremony is held at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. ](/feed/2026/06/11/in-association-football-the-2026-fifa-world-cup-consisting-of-48-national-teams-for-the-first-time-begins-with-matches.md) _Context: 2026, FIFA World Cup, association football_ 10. [In association football, the South Africa soccer team qualifies for the upcoming FIFA World Cup following a 3-0 win against Rwanda. This will be their first appearance in the FIFA World Cup since hosting the tournament in 2010. ](/feed/2025/10/14/in-association-football-the-south-africa-soccer-team-qualifies-for-the-upcoming-fifa-world-cup-following-a-3-0-win-agai.md) _Context: 2026, FIFA World Cup, association football_