Congo DR and Cape Verde Shock the World: Africa's World Cup Underdogs

Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of Congo have emerged as two of the most surprising stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The African teams have earned praise from football legends Diego Forlan and Hristo Stoichkov for their performances. Both squads defied expectations to qualify for the global tournament. Their success highlights the growing strength of African football on the world stage. Forlan and Stoichkov, both former World Cup stars, called the teams "standout" stories from the continent. The praise comes as the tournament enters its final stages.