Cape Verde Make History, Now Face Argentina

Cape Verde, a nation of roughly 500,000 people, have written themselves into World Cup folklore after qualifying for the round of 32 for the first time in their history, according to Reuters. A goalless draw against Saudi Arabia in Houston was enough to see them through, and the scenes inside the stadium and among the players afterwards were ones of pure joy.

Reuters reports that many of Cape Verde's players stayed on the pitch long after the final whistle, draped in flags, hugging each other and taking pictures, soaking up the magnitude of the moment. Among the touching details in the story is that the team's 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha, had his mother watching from the stands after she arrived late to the tournament because of the cost of obtaining a US visa.

Their reward for this historic achievement is a last-32 tie against world champions Argentina, hardly the gentlest of introductions to knockout football. But given what this team has already managed, few among their supporters will feel anything but pure excitement.