Praia, July 9, 2026 (Lusa) - Cabo Verde’s participation in the 2026 World Cup is sparking growing interest among tourists, according to reports from tour operators to Lusa in Praia, the archipelago’s capital.
“Since the national team’s excellent performance at the World Cup, we have seen a significant increase in enquiries,” said Marvela Rodrigues, manager of the travel agency PraiaTour.
The 'Blue Sharks' (the country's men's World Cup team) are raising the profile of the islands, their beaches, culture, cuisine, and the experiences the archipelago offers foreign tourists – for example, hiking and other nature-based activities.
The islands of Sal and Boa Vista remain among the most sought-after destinations due to their beaches and existing tourist infrastructure, but Santiago, São Vicente, Fogo and Santo Antão have been attracting growing interest for their historical and cultural richness and natural landscapes, she noted.
Portugal, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and Brazil are the countries requesting the most information, as is the Cabo Verde diaspora, who wish to discover the country by bringing together family and friends.
For the time being, there are more “enquiries”, but the growth in bookings is still modest.
The same trend is described by Jemima Asare, sales director at Aventour Travel Agency.
“With each passing day, we are seeing greater interest from foreigners in getting to know our country and our culture,” she said, linking the enquiries to the country’s presence at the 2026 World Cup.
It is still too early to say which island is benefiting most from the increased visibility, although Santiago, São Vicente, Boa Vista and Santo Antão are among the most sought after by visitors at this agency.
Cabo Verde’s government also intends to capitalise on the international exposure gained from the World Cup to boost the country’s overseas promotion, through a strategy launched in April.
The plan (covering before, during, and after the tournament) includes partnerships with tour operators and promotional campaigns in international markets, building on the Blue Sharks' performance. Images of the national team in action livened up a pavilion showcasing the islands at Rock in Rio in Lisbon in June.
The debutant national team exceeded expectations, progressing from the group stage and putting up a strong fight against champions Argentina (3–2 after extra time) in the round of 32, when Argentina narrowly advanced.
For Marvela Rodrigues, Cabo Verde must now capitalise on the visibility it has gained to boost its promotion by improving air connectivity between the islands and diversifying its tourism offering.
“The challenge now is to turn this visibility into tangible results,” she concluded.
Tourism has been Cabo Verde’s economic driving force, boosted by the increase in flight routes to Europe and spurring growth in other sectors.
The number of visitors to the archipelago rose by 6% in 2025 compared with the previous year, totalling 1.2 million, according to official figures.
KZR/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
