Cape Verde Defeated by Chile in FIFA Series World Cup Warm-up
A ten-man Cape Verde side suffered a 4-2 defeat to Chile in Auckland on Wednesday as they ramp up preparations for their historic debut at the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Despite a spirited performance that saw them lead late in the first half, the Blue Sharks were ultimately undone by a numerical disadvantage and a clinical Chilean attack.
A Rollercoaster First Half
Played at Auckland’s iconic Eden Park, the FIFA Series friendly began at a frantic pace. Chile, who missed out on qualification for the 2026 World Cup, took the lead in the 16th minute through striker Ben Brereton Díaz. However, Cape Verde responded almost immediately. Just five minutes later, Casa Pia forward Dailon Livramento clinicaly equalized for the African side.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 43rd minute when Cape Verdean center-back Diney was shown a straight red card for a deliberate handball on the goal line. Despite being reduced to ten men, Bubista’s side stunned the Chileans three minutes into first-half injury time. Benfica full-back Sidny Cabral unleashed a stunning strike to give Cape Verde a 2-1 lead heading into the break.
Chile Capitalizes on the Extra Man
The second half proved more difficult for the shorthanded Cape Verdeans. Maximiliano Gutiérrez restored parity for Chile in the 58th minute, beating veteran goalkeeper Vozinha. The pressure continued to mount, and Felipe Loyola reclaimed the lead for the South Americans in the 67th minute.
With ten minutes remaining, Gonzalo Tapia added a fourth to seal the victory for Chile, underscoring the challenge ahead for Cape Verde as they prepare to face the world’s elite this summer.
The Road to the World Cup
Cape Verde is currently participating in the second edition of the FIFA Series, a global initiative designed to give national teams from different confederations the chance to compete. The 2026 edition has expanded significantly since its pilot phase, now featuring 36 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams across various host nations.
The Blue Sharks remain in New Zealand for their final fixture of the series against Finland on Monday. This serves as a vital tune-up before they head to North America for their first-ever World Cup appearance. Cape Verde has been drawn into the challenging Group H, where they will face global powerhouses Spain (June 15) and Uruguay (June 21), before concluding the group stage against Saudi Arabia (June 26).
Image: Pexels – Caio
