Cape Verde name World Cup squad: Two MLS players included but no place for Bebe

Villarreal's Logan Costa is Cape Verde's sole representative in Europe's top five leagues Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images Share articleCape Verde have included Villarreal defender Logan Costa in their World Cup squad, despite the centre-back playing just 14 minutes this season following a knee injury. The 25-year-old tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a friendly match last August and only returned to action on Sunday with a late substitute appearance against Rayo Vallecano after a 10-month absence. Head coach Bubista has included the defender — the nation’s highest profile player and the only representative in Europe’s top five leagues — in his 26-player squad, which otherwise contains no surprises. Two MLS-based players are in the squad; former U.S. youth international goalkeeper CJ dos Santos, of San Diego, is included after his allegiance switch to the African nation was confirmed by FIFA this month, while Columbus Crew defender Steven Moreira is also in. Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes, who plays for Turkish club Igdir, is the nation’s record scorer (22 goals in 96 appearances) and main goal threat, alongside winger Garry Rodrigues, with nine international goals, and Dailon Livramento, on loan at Casa Pia in Portugal from Hellas Verona. Mendes and Rodrigues are two of five active Cape Verde players with over 50 caps, alongside goalkeeper Vozinha, left-back Stopira and central midfielder Jamiro Monteiro. There is no place for Bebe, the 35-year-old former Manchester United winger of Spanish third-division side Ibiza, who received the most recent of his 26 international caps in 2024. The island country, home to around 525,000 people, is the third-smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup finals after Iceland, which participated in the 2018 edition, and Curacao, who are this summer’s tournament. The majority of Cape Verde’s players are drawn from the nation’s diaspora, with seven of the squad based in Portugal. Cape Verde will play Serbia in a warm-up fixture on May 31 in Lisbon before their World Cup campaign begins against European champions Spain on June 15 in Atlanta, before playing Uruguay in Miami six days later, on June 21. Bubista’s side conclude their group against Saudi Arabia on June 27 in Houston. Goalkeepers: Carlos dos Santos (San Diego), Marcio Rosa (Montana 1921), Vozinha (Chaves). Defenders: Sidny ‌Cabral (Benfica), Diney Borges (Al Bataeh), Logan Costa (Villarreal), ⁠Roberto Lopes (Shamrock Rovers), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Wagner Pina (Trabzonspor), Kelvin Pires (SJK Seinajoki), ⁠Stopira (Torreense). Midfielders: Telmo Arcanjo (Vitoria Guimaraes), Deroy Duarte (Ludogorets), Laros Duarte (Puskas Akademia), Joao Paulo Fernandes (Otelul Galati), Jamiro Monteiro (PEC Zwolle), Kevin ‌Pina (FK Krasnodar), Yannick ​Semedo (Farense). Forwards: Gilson Benchimol (Akron Tolyatti), Jovane Cabral (Estrela da Amadora), Dailon Livramento (Casa ‌Pia), Ryan Mendes (Igdir), Nuno da Costa (Istanbul ​Basaksehir), Garry Rodrigues (Apollon Limassol), Willy Semedo (Omonia Nicosia), Helio Varela (Maccabi Tel Aviv). Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms