Cape Verde, the tiny Atlantic island nation of just over 500,000 people, has made football history by becoming the smallest country by population ever to reach the knockout rounds of a FIFA World Cup. The team secured their place in the round of 32 at their debut World Cup appearance after drawing 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in Houston, then anxiously watching on mobile phones as Spain beat Uruguay 1-0 to confirm their passage. They now face defending champions Argentina on 3 July in Miami.

Cape Verde, an archipelago of 10 islands located roughly 600 kilometres off the coast of West Africa, finished second in Group H with three draws — a result that belied the extraordinary quality of their campaign. Their opening 0-0 draw with Spain, in which goalkeeper Vozinha delivered a stunning performance, immediately captured global attention. A dramatic 2-2 draw with Uruguay followed, before Friday's hard-fought stalemate with Saudi Arabia. Coach Bubista, who walked into his post-match press conference draped in the national flag, was characteristically measured: