League of Ireland star Roberto Lopes is heading to the global stage. The Shamrock Rovers centre-back has been officially selected for Cape Verde’s 26-man squad ahead of this summer’s highly anticipated tournament.
From Dublin to the World Stage
The 33-year-old defender boasts a unique international journey:
- Born in Dublin to an Irish mother and a Cape Verdean father.
- Represented the Republic of Ireland at the Under-19 level back in 2011.
- Made his senior international debut for Cape Verde in 2019, later representing the Blue Sharks at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.
At the club level, Lopes has been a cornerstone of Shamrock Rovers’ historic success since joining in 2017. He has amassed 269 appearances and scored 21 goals for the club, who hold a record 22 League of Ireland Premier Division titles. Last year, Lopes famously captained Rovers to their first domestic double since 1987.
Cape Verde’s Historic World Cup Campaign
Cape Verde continues to punch well above its weight, entering the tournament as the second-smallest country by landmass and the third-smallest by population ever to qualify for a World Cup.
The expanded 48-team tournament kicks off on 11 June across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Cape Verde will face a challenging test in Group H, with their schedule lined up as follows:
- 15 June: Spain (2010 World Cup Champions)
- 21 June: Uruguay
- 27 June: Saudi Arabia
Official Cape Verde 2026 World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers
- Vozinha (Chaves)
- Marcio Rosa (Montana)
- CJ dos Santos (San Diego)
Defenders
- Stopira (Torreense)
- Roberto Lopes (Shamrock Rovers)
- Joao Paulo (FCSB)
- Diney (Al Bataeh)
- Logan Costa (Villarreal)
- Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew)
- Wagner Pina (Trabzonspor)
- Sidny Lopes Cabral (Benfica)
- Kelvin Pires (SJK)
Midfielders
- Jamiro Monteiro (PEC Zwolle)
- Kevin Pina (Krasnodar)
- Deroy Duarte (Ludogorets)
- Telmo Arcanjo (Vitoria Guimaraes)
- Laros Duarte (Puskas Akademia)
- Yannick Semedo (Farense)
Forwards
- Ryan Mendes (Igdir)
- Garry Rodrigues (Apollon Limassol)
- Willy Semedo (Omonia)
- Jovane Cabral (Estrela Amadora)
- Gilson Tavares (Akron Tolyatti)
- Dailon Livramento (Casa Pia)
- Helio Varela (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
- Nuno da Costa (Istanbul Basaksehir)
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