This Is Smallest Nation Ever to Make World Cup Knockouts

Cape Verde just rewrote the World Cup's script. The island nation of about 525,000 people clinched a place in the knockout rounds of the men's World Cup on Friday, becoming the smallest country by population ever to do so, reports ESPN. A 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in Houston, which USA Today called a "gritty" and "excruciating" matchup, was enough to seal second place in Group H with three points from three games—unbeaten against Spain, Uruguay, and the Saudis. Their run began with a shock scoreless result against heavily favored Spain, then a 2-2 draw with Uruguay that delivered the country's first World Cup goals. Uruguay's loss to Spain on Friday sent the two-time champions home, along with Saudi Arabia.

Cape Verde, aka the Blue Sharks, now face titleholders Argentina in a round-of-32 match on Friday in Miami Gardens, Florida, after what the AP describes as their "improbable run." They're the first World Cup debutants to emerge from their group without a loss since Senegal in 2002, already having gone further than smaller-population qualifiers Curacao and Iceland managed in past tournaments, per ESPN. The team has leaned on 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, who produced key saves on Friday and has become a social media star. "We are small," said Vozinha, 40. "But we have big hearts, and we are fighters." As their coach Bubista put it before the match: "Everyone is entitled to dream."