\n
The small African island nation of Cape Verde defeated Eswatini 3-0 on Monday to qualify for the World Cup for the first time.<\/p>\n
Cape Verde, with a population smaller than the U.S. state of Vermont, is the second smallest country to compete in the Men’s World Cup since the first edition in 1930. <\/p>\n
Let’s take a look at the smallest countries in World Cup history, based on their population at the time of their participation in the tournament.<\/p>\n
iceland<\/h2>\n
Iceland, with a population of just over 350,000, qualified for the tournament in Russia in 2018, becoming the smallest country to qualify for the World Cup.<\/p>\n
It was two years after the team famously defeated England and reached the quarter-finals of the 2016 European Championship.<\/p>\n
In Russia, Iceland drew with Argentina but lost to Croatia and Nigeria, leaving them bottom of their World Cup group.<\/p>\n
cape verde<\/h2>\n
The island nation off the coast of West Africa has a population of approximately 525,000 people and is ranked 70th in the FIFA men’s world rankings. <\/p>\n
Cape Verde finished first in the African qualifying group, ahead of Cameroon, one of the continent’s soccer powers, and qualified for the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n
The country, which won independence from Portugal 50 years ago, has participated in the African Cup of Nations four times, reaching the quarter-finals in 2013 and 2023.<\/p>\n
That number is by far the smallest of the countries that have so far qualified for next year’s World Cup (USA, Mexico, Canada).<\/p>\n
paraguay<\/h2>\n
When it competed in its first World Cup in 1930, the South American country had an estimated population of just under 1 million people.<\/p>\n
Paraguay lost to the United States and then to Belgium, and were eliminated from the first round.<\/p>\n
The Paraguayans will qualify for their ninth World Cup next year, having secured the last of six direct qualifying spots for South America.<\/p>\n
trinidad and tobago<\/h2>\n
The Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago qualified for their first and only World Cup in Germany in 2006 after winning an international play-off.<\/p>\n
With a population of 1.3 million, it was the smallest country in the competition by a slight margin.<\/p>\n
Trinidad and Tobago drew with Sweden but lost to England and Paraguay, finishing bottom of the group.<\/p>\n
He hasn’t been back to the World Cup since.<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland<\/h2>\n
When Northern Ireland competed in the 1958 World Cup, its population was estimated at 1.4 million.<\/p>\n
The team defeated Czechoslovakia in the group stage, lost to Argentina, and drew with Germany. They were defeated by France in the final tournament.<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland also participated in the World Cup in 1982 and 1986.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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