Cork-based Cape Verde woman 'so proud' of her country and Pico's role in their World Cup journey

As a native of Cape Verde, Cork-based Andrea Williams has certainly not escaped the fever around the FIFA Football World Cup 2026.

There have been huge levels of excitement, colour and a carnival like atmosphere amongst Cape Verdeans right across the globe as their country makes its first appearance at the tournament.

Watching on from Leeside, Andrea has been gripped following the opening two Cape Verde World Cup games.

After securing a well-deserved share of the spoils against Spain and Uruguay, now Cape Verde still can very much dream of progressing to the knockout stages, heading into the final group stage clash against Saudi Arabia at 1am tomorrow.

Andrea, the artistic director at Hype Digital and also a highly regarded choreographer and dancer, said she has huge pride in knowing the entire world is getting to see what Cape Verde and its people are all about.

“It is excitement, a sense of pride. I think seeing us in the World Cup made us realise that we don't actually need to define ourselves to belong. We just believe that we belong. We are small in size, but we are big in heart."

She adds that the FIFA World Cup 2026 has helped Cape Verde to truly announce itself on the global stage.

“It feels like the world is now discovering Cape Verde – discovering how much heart we have as a people and how much we believe in ourselves. I think if there is one message that we can take from Cape Verde in the World Cup, it is you can make the impossible possible, if you believe enough and if you work hard enough for it.

“That is the legacy we are going to leave behind. Believing in yourself even when the world tells you are not able to do it.” 

Andrea points out that there are more Cape Verdeans living outside of the islands than there are on the islands that make up the country.

“But we all unite and we are all celebrating our heritage, celebrating our history. And are also sharing it, which is something that I think is really beautiful.” 

At the heart of the defence for Cape Verde has been the Dublin native and Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto “Pico” Lopes. Andrea believes Pico is a great role model and has a huge level of respect for the way he has embraced his Cape Verdean heritage.

“I'm so proud of him. He is not only playing football, he is representing Cape Verde so well. He has learned our dialect – Cape Verdean Creole – and he speaks it in interviews. It's amazing to see how proud he is of both being Cape Verdean and being Irish. I wasn't born in Ireland, but I felt that I was reborn in Ireland."