Politics

How sports diplomacy for a dead empire built a World Cup underdog

The Jogos da Lusofonia was supposed to be junior varsity Olympics glue for ex-Portuguese colonies. Instead it seeded Cape Verde’s improbable rise.

Published July 3, 2026, 8:15 PM
Updated July 3, 2026, 8:27 PM199
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How sports diplomacy for a dead empire built a World Cup underdog