Cape Verde's national team is preparing to return home amid a grand festive atmosphere, after their honorable exit from the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup against Argentina in an exciting match that ended with the world champion winning 3-2 after extra time, as the island nation came close to pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

The team leaves the United States today, Saturday, heading to the capital Praia, where they are scheduled to arrive tomorrow, Sunday, to be greeted by thousands of fans who will celebrate the team's remarkable performance in the World Cup.

Cape Verde delivered a heroic performance in the tournament, drawing 0-0 with Spain and Saudi Arabia, then forcing a 2-2 draw against Uruguay, before narrowly losing to Argentina in a match that went to extra time, exiting the competition with their heads held high after earning the respect of fans worldwide.

The players are expected to be greeted at Praia airport by an official government delegation, before touring the capital's streets in a large celebratory motorcade, followed by a fan rally featuring official speeches with goalkeeper Vozinha, along with musical performances and popular celebrations expressing the country's pride in the team's achievement in its first historic participation in the knockout stages of the World Cup.

This welcome comes in appreciation of the fighting spirit shown by Cape Verde's players, who wrote a new chapter in African and world football history with their outstanding performance and courage against top teams.