HOUSTON — Cape Verde, the surprise star of the 2026 World Cup, is having a moment.

This is the first World Cup for the small island nation, and yet, the squad has managed to hold its own against soccer powerhouses like Spain and Uruguay. And it’s not just Cape Verde: African teams are playing big in this year’s tournament, against soccer legends that are performing unevenly.

Egypt is having a historic run. Ghana made it impossible for England to score a goal. And the Democratic Republic of Congo tied mighty Portugal.

The most stellar performance so far from an African nation in this World Cup has been Morocco, leading with seven goals. It’s hardly their first time making a big splash at the tournament: in the last World Cup, in 2022, they made it to the semifinals — a first for an African team.

At their recent game against Brazil in East Rutherford, N.J., Moroccan superfan Mustapha Chliah told NPR, it’s time to stop calling them underdogs. “We’re here for the title. Underdogs? That was like back in 1998. But in 2026, in America, we’re gonna prove 2022 wasn’t a fluke.”

Mustapha Chliah, a Morocco supporter, poses for a portrait holding a Moroccan flag before the Brazil vs. Morocco FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage match in Paterson, N.J., on June 13.

Carolina Herrera for NPR

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Carolina Herrera for NPR

After Chliah’s prediction, the team tied Brazil 1-1 — and hasn’t lost a single game at this World Cup.

Zayn Nabbi, host of the podcast On The Whistle, about African soccer, says it’s absolutely not a fluke.

Morocco started planning this more than 15 years ago when they built a world-class training site and academy. “The king of that country made a decision: that they were gonna invest in football, and they were gonna use it as soft power. A host of stars are turning down the opportunity to play for European nations to play for Morocco,” Nabbi says.

Nabbi says this is key to understanding the power of African soccer right now: the diaspora and the desire of many African immigrants and their children to play for their home countries.

Sports journalist Maher Mezahi with the blog Africa Is A Country, agrees. He points to Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi as an example. “He’s 18. He’s considered one of the best talents in French football. France wanted him, and Bouaddi turned that down and decided to represent the Moroccan national team.”
 

Children play soccer ahead of a watch party for the FIFA World Cup group-stage match between Morocco and Brazil in Paterson, N.J. on June 13.

Carolina Herrera for NPR

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Carolina Herrera for NPR

Another major factor at play this year is that Africa has benefited the most from FIFA’s expansion of the number of teams in the World Cup. In the last tournament, Africa was allowed five teams; this time around, they got to send twice as many. The expansion has led to new stars and teams entering the world stage. Newcomers like Cape Verdean goalie Vozinha, the undeniable breakout star of this year’s World Cup.