Shamrock Rovers centre‑back Lee Grace will be cheering from Dublin as his club captain Roberto "Pico" Lopes takes the field for Cape Verde, the nation’s inaugural World Cup campaign. the partnership that has powered Rovers to five league crowns now extends to the global stage, underscoring the deep Irish‑Cape Verdean links that have blossomed in recent years.

Roberto Lopes' World Cup debut for Cape Verde

Roberto Lopes, born in Dublin to a Cape Verdean father and Irish mother, earned his first senior cap for the island nation in 2019 after earlier representing the Republic of Ireland at under‑19 level.. According to the source, he has been named in Cape Verde’s 26‑man squad for the 2026 World Cup, marking the country’s historic first appearance in the tournament.

Shamrock Rovers' five Premier Division crowns with Grace and Lopes

Since joining Rovers—Lopes in November 2016 and Grace in August 2017—the duo have formed a defensive cornerstone that helped the club secure five Premier Division titles, two FAI Cups and two UEFA Conference League berths. Grace told BBC Sport’s Nathan Edwards that Lopes “sets the standard for everyone” and that his World Cup call‑up is “a huge pleasure for all of us.”

League of Ireland fans wave Cape Verde flags at Tallaght Stadium

Before Lopes’ departure, Rovers supporters gave him an emotional farewell during a 2‑1 loss to Sligo Rovers, with the stands awash in Cape Verde flags. Grace noted that the display reflected “the whole league will back him,” highlighting the broader Irish diaspora’s pride in the player’s achievement.

Group H schedule pits Cape Verde against Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia

Cape Verde opens Group H against 2010 champions Spain on 15 June at 17:00 BST, followed by Uruguay on 21 June at 22:00 BST and Saudi Arabia on 27 June at 01:00 BST. grace joked he will try to stay awake for the later fixtures, saying he will watch the 5 pm and 10 pm games and see if he’s still up for the 1 am match.

Will Cape Verde advance past Group H?

The source leaves unanswered whether the debutants can progress beyond the group stage,especially given the daunting opposition of Spain and Uruguay.. Additionally, no comment was provided from Cape Verde’s coach on how Lopes’ club form translates to the World Cup level.