Portuguese-born Cape Verdean goalkeeper Bruno Varela, who plays for Saudi club Al-Hazm and the Cape Verde national team, affirmed that the upcoming match against Saudi Arabia in the 2026 World Cup finals will be one of his team's highlights in the tournament. Varela praised the tremendous development Saudi football has witnessed in recent years, describing the "Green Falcons" as a team with a clear playing style and players capable of making a difference.
A fiery draw and a clash of titans
Varela's comments came in response to the 2026 World Cup draw, which placed Cape Verde in the tough Group F, alongside football giants Spain and Uruguay, as well as Saudi Arabia. Speaking to the media, Varela said, "We are very happy with this draw. Playing against teams of this caliber is a dream for any player, and we will be fully prepared to represent our country on the world stage.".
This group is of particular importance due to its footballing diversity, combining Spanish tiki-taka, Uruguayan grit, advanced Saudi skill, and the physical strength of the Cape Verde national team, promising high-level matches.
Saudi Arabia: From Argentina's Surprise to a Steadfast Power
Speaking about their Saudi Arabian opponents, Varela showed great respect for the Green Falcons, noting that the world hasn't forgotten Saudi Arabia's historic performance at the 2022 Qatar World Cup and their epic victory over Argentina. The Al-Hazm goalkeeper added, "Saudi Arabia is a very strong team. They have fantastic players like Salem Al-Dawsari, who is an Asian icon, striker Firas Al-Buraikan, and midfielder Mohamed Kanno. They play under exceptional coaching, and we will try to challenge ourselves and showcase our abilities against them.".
The Saudi League experience: A gateway to understanding the opponent
Varela also discussed his professional experience with Al-Hazm, emphasizing that his time in the Portuguese league gave him a deeper understanding of the nature of Saudi players. He said, "The competition here is extremely fierce, especially against the four big clubs that have attracted international stars. The Saudi league differs tactically and physically from the Portuguese league, but it is developing at an amazing pace, and the local players possess high individual skills.".
The international goalkeeper indicated that the continuous interaction with Saudi players in the local league will help him read their movements during the World Cup match, despite acknowledging the difficulty of the task.
Cape Verde: A Migratory Birds Strategy
Regarding his country's chances, Varela explained that Cape Verde's strength lies in its strategy of recruiting dual-nationality players active in European leagues, which has significantly raised the team's technical quality. He concluded by emphasizing that the "Blue Sharks" will not be easy prey, but will strive to impose their own style and focus on teamwork to achieve positive results in one of the toughest groups of the World Cup.
