Cape Verde fans cheer during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo\/George Walker IV)<\/small><\/p>\n
2026-07-05T20:22:54Z<\/p>\n
Have a weekend, Cape Verde.<\/p>\n
The national soccer team<\/a><\/span> returned home Sunday as heroes after their run to the round of 32 of the World Cup and pushing Lionel Messi and Argentina<\/a><\/span> into extra time. The men\u2019s basketball team clinched a berth in the second round of that sport\u2019s World Cup qualifying as well.<\/p>\n And all this happened during an already joyous time in Cape Verde \u2014 Sunday was Independence Day.<\/p>\n \u201cViva Cape Verde,\u201d basketball coach Emanuel Trovoada said after his team beat Libya on Sunday in a World Cup qualifying matchup in Cameroon.<\/p>\n Viva Cape Verde, indeed. Not bad for a country of about 500,000 people \u2014 the smallest, in terms of land mass, ever to reach the World Cup.<\/p>\n Independence Day was already going to be a day of celebration across the island nation off the western coast of Africa, but Sunday \u2014 with the soccer team returning from Miami \u2014 only made it more festive. Vozinha, the goalkeeper, captured video footage of workers on the tarmac dropping to their knees and bowing as the plane taxied into its gate.<\/p>\n Eventually \u2014 after interviews that were followed by countless hugs, high-fives and selfies with well-wishers at the airport \u2014 players and coaches were loaded onto the back of a truck and paraded through thousands of cheering fans. Flags swayed in the breeze on a sunny afternoon, drummers took to the streets and dance troupes were part of the celebration.<\/p>\n \u201cWe gave it all for Cape Verde,\u201d defender Pico Lopes said.<\/p>\n