Cape Verde's Blue Sharks returned home to a heroes' welcome after a surprising World Cup defeat to Argentina in Miami.

Thousands of overjoyed fans greeted the team upon their arrival at the Praia airport, waving banners and cheering as they stepped off the plane. The Sharks are set for a parade through the streets of the capital before meeting with the country's president and other members of the government.

The post-Wold Cup celebrations coincided with Cape Verde's 51st anniversary of independence from Portugal, which ruled the country for 500 years.

Edmilson Correia, 28, a fan of the team, expressed his admiration for the Blue Sharks saying "After the heroes who fought for our independence, we now have these heroes — the Blue Sharks."

Cape Verde head coach Bubista praised his team saying "We demonstrated that our World Cup qualification wasn’t down to luck. We showed hard work and resilience, and we left the United States with our heads held high,".

The team's return home also saw the national football team players greeting supporters from a bus upon their arrival.

Minister of Culture and Sports Antonio Duarte commended the Blue Sharks and their coach for "cementing Cape Verde’s status as a great nation".

Cape Verde's fairytale journey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has gained the country worldwide recognition, as the team progressed to the knockout stages in their first World Cup, thrilling supporters back home and gaining fans abroad as they confounded expectations.

12-year-old Ivan Goncalves, a die-hard fan of the team, said he was on the lookout for Cabral in particular because of his "fabulous goal against Argentina".

The team's arrival back home marked a celebratory mood in Praia as fans commemorated the fairytale journey and slim defeat against the world champions.

Despite the team’s loss to Argentina, the celebration was palpable in the early hours of Saturday morning, as fans erupted in cheers and tears in recognition of the team's achievement.

The Blue Sharks will now enjoy their well-deserved break as they bask in the glory of their remarkable World Cup journey.

Key Facts

  • Cape Verde celebrated its 51st anniversary of independence from Portugal.
  • The team's fairytale journey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup saw them progress to the knockout stages in their first World Cup.
  • The Blue Sharks have gained the country worldwide recognition.
  • The team's coach Bubista praised his team for their hard work and resilience.
  • The Blue Sharks will enjoy a parade through the streets of the capital before meeting with the country's president.