The Cape Verdean Football Federation (FCF) announced its squad for the 2026 World Cup in May 2026. Squad lists change with injuries and form, so treat this as the tournament group and always check the FCF for the latest call-ups.
Goalkeepers
The goalkeeping trio was led by the veteran Vozinha (Josimar Dias), alongside Márcio da Rosa and Carlos Santos. Vozinha went on to become the story of Cape Verde’s tournament — read his full profile and our overview of Cape Verde goalkeepers.
The spine of the team
Captain Ryan Mendes anchored the attack, with defender Roberto “Pico” Lopes and forward Dailon Livramento among the most influential outfield names.
Featured players with profiles
- Vozinha — goalkeeper, the face of the run
- Ryan Mendes — captain and attacking leader
- Roberto “Pico” Lopes — Dublin-born centre-back
- Dailon Livramento — key forward
- Logan Costa — ball-playing defender
- Jamiro Monteiro — creative midfielder
- Garry Rodrigues — experienced winger
- Jovane Cabral — home-grown attacker
Home-grown vs diaspora
The squad reflects the two rivers that feed Cape Verdean football: players who came through the islands themselves, and those raised abroad in the diaspora who chose to represent Cabo Verde. Together they explain how such a small nation built a World Cup team — see Born abroad, playing for Cape Verde.
Related pages
Last reviewed: July 2026. Travel rules and football data change — always confirm time-sensitive details before you rely on them.
Photo: Happiraphael · CC BY-SA 4.0