BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Cape Verde made history by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, finishing top of Group D in the African qualifiers after a 3-0 home victory over bottom-placed Eswatini on Monday.

After finishing the group stage with 23 points, Cape Verde will appear on world football's biggest stage for the first time. With a population of just over 500,000, Cape Verde is the second smallest country after Iceland to qualify for the World Cup finals.

The crucial moment came in the eighth matchday when Cape Verde upset Cameroon 1-0 at home. Despite a subsequent 3-3 draw with Libya delaying Cape Verde's qualification, the Blue Sharks held their nerve against Eswatini to secure their place in the finals.

The 2026 World Cup, expanded to 48 teams for the first time, grants Africa nine direct qualifying spots, which go to the nine qualifying group winners. The four best group runners-up will enter a playoff for a chance of competing in the inter-confederation playoffs.

In other African qualifying groups, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Ghana have also secured spots at the World Cup. ■