Cape Verde are taking a gamble on the fitness of central defender Logan Costa and will include him in the 26-man FIFA World Cup 2026 squad on Monday despite a long-term injury.
The Paris-born defender tore his ACL during a friendly last July and did not return to action until Sunday, when he came on as a late second-half substitute for Villarreal in the 2-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.
However, Costa’s 13-minute cameo in La Liga was enough to convince coach Bubista to include him in the group of the 25-year-old widely regarded as his country’s best player.
There were no other surprises in the squad announcement as the coach stuck with the core of players that secured a first World Cup appearance for one of Africa’s smallest countries.
Cape Verde squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup
Goalkeepers: Carlos dos Santos (San Diego), Marcio Rosa (Montana 1921), Vozinha (Chaves)
Defenders: Sidny Cabral (Benfica), Diney Borges (Al Bataeh), Logan Costa (Villarreal), Roberto Lopes (Shamrock Rovers), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Wagner Pina (Trabzonspor), Kelvin Pires (SJK Seinäjoki, Finland), Stopira (Torreen)
Midfielders: Telmo Arcanjo (Vitoria Guimaraes), Deroy Duarte (Ludogorets), Laros Duarte (Puskas Akademia), Joao Paulo Fernandes (Oțelul Galați), Jamiro Monteiro (PEC Zwolle), Kevin Pina (FK Krasnodar), Yannick Semedo (Farense).
Forwards: Gilson Benchimol (Russia), Jovane Cabral (Portugal), Dailon Livramento (Casa Pia), Ryan Mendes (Igdir), Nuno da Costa (Istanbul Basaksehir), Garry Rodrigues (Apollon Limassol), Willy Semedo (Omonia Nicosia), Helio Varela (Maccabi Tel Aviv).
With around 600,000 inhabitants, Cape Verde is the third-smallest country to participate in a World Cup, but the players almost all come from the country’s large diaspora.
Players born in France, Ireland, the Netherlands and former colonial power Portugal dominate the squad, while American-born goalkeeper Carlos dos Santos was picked as back-up to 39-year-old Vozinha. Dos Santos was previously part of the US squad and had a switch of allegiance approved by FIFA last week. He is the only uncapped player in the selection.
Cape Verde has announced it will face Serbia in a World Cup warm-up match in Lisbon on May 31 and Bermuda in East Hartford on June 6.
It will play in Group H at the World Cup, starting on June 15 in Atlanta against former winners Spain before facing Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
Published on May 18, 2026
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