Cabo Verde become first team since 1998 to reach World Cup knockouts with 3 draws

Cabo Verde has become the first team since Chile in 1998 to reach the Fifa World Cup knockout stage after drawing all three of their group matches.

Making their World Cup debut, the West African island nation advanced from Group H without registering a single victory. They finished second with three points, behind Spain on seven, after holding Spain and Saudi Arabia to goalless draws and fighting back for a 2-2 draw against Uruguay.

With a population of just over 5,00,000, Cabo Verde is the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup knockout stage. Their disciplined performances against former world champions Spain, two-time winners Uruguay, and Asian side Saudi Arabia underlined one of the tournament's most remarkable stories.

Cabo Verde joined Wales in 1958, the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands in 1990, and Chile in 1998 as the only teams to progress from the group stage after drawing all three matches.

In contrast, New Zealand failed to qualify despite recording three draws at the 2010 World Cup.

The Blue Sharks now face defending champion Argentina in the round of 32.

"We may be a small country, but we have a big heart, and we know how to fight until the end," said Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha.

The team's coach Pedro Leitão Brito, commonly known as Bubista, said their World Cup exploits had "shown our country to the world" after setting up a last-32 meeting with Lionel Messi's reigning champions Argentina on Friday.

The third-smallest team by population in the history of the competition drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in Houston to finish runners-up in their group today. That sent them into an encounter against the mighty Argentina on July 3 in Miami.

"To us, nothing is impossible," said Bubista, who came into the press conference wrapped in his country's flag.