Cape Verde and Dubliner Roberto 'Pico' Lopes make history as they progress to knockouts
Press Association Sports Staff
Cape Verde has reached the knockout stage of the World Cup, becoming the smallest country in history to qualify for the next phase of the competition after a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia.
Dublin-born Roberto 'Pico' Lopes, Shamrock Rovers captain, can now claim to have done more than anyone else to further the case that the League of Ireland is the 'greatest league in the world'.
The Crumlin man and centre back will now play against Messi next Friday instead of playing Sligo away.
Both teams struggled to create opportunities in front of the goal in the first half.
An early attempt from Jamiro Monteiro was saved by Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais.
In the second half, Al-Owais comfortably saved an effort from Wagner Pina, while Kevin Pina later shot wide.
Cape Verde carved out one last scoring opportunity in the game’s dying seconds, but Nuno da Costa fired just wide of the box.
Cape Verde will play Argentina in Miami on July 3rd.
The country’s three points put them in second place behind Spain in Group H.
The team did not know at the end of the game that they were through, but were on the pitch when they heard the final whistle of Spain vs Uruguay, with the relief of a point quickly turning to disbelief at their achievement.
Full-Time: ð¨ð» 0-0 ð¸ð¦
How can you not be romantic about football
Cape Verde are through and Roberto Lopes becomes the first ever player contracted to a League of Ireland club to reach the knockout rounds of the World Cup
Watch all 104 games from the #FIFAWorldCup on RTÉ pic.twitter.com/1S74myfTlX
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 27, 2026
