As part of their preparation for the 2026 World Cup, Cape Verde will take on Serbia in an international friendly at Estadio do Restelo on Sunday, 31 May 2026, at 21:30 WIB.
The Blue Sharks are aiming for their first victory in five matches this weekend, while the Eagles will look to shake off the disappointment of missing out on qualification for this summer’s tournament.
Under coach Bubista, Cape Verde made history by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time and now aim to make a strong impression in the competition to be held in North America.
The Blue Sharks topped Group D in the African qualifiers, finishing above continental giants Cameroon after a 3-0 victory over Eswatini on 13 October.
That win extended their unbeaten run in qualifying to seven impressive matches, and having lost just once in 10 games en route to the finals, Bubista’s men fully deserved their place on the global stage.
However, Cape Verde enter this friendly without a win since that emphatic October triumph, with their penalty shootout victory over Finland at the end of March ending a run of three consecutive defeats.
The nominal hosts this weekend will be eager to rediscover their best form before heading to the World Cup, where they are considered underdogs in Group H, opening their campaign against Spain on 15 June.
Meanwhile, Serbia failed to qualify for the World Cup after a 2-0 defeat to England in November and will be desperate to avoid another setback this weekend as they process that disappointment.
The Eagles began 2026 with a 3-0 loss to Spain on 27 March but bounced back to beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 just three days later.
Veljko Paunovic’s side will hope to build on that win, but with no clean sheet in their last seven matches, defensive improvements are urgently needed.
Serbia’s attack has also struggled, having failed to score in four of those seven games, highlighting the need for a major offensive revival.
Despite facing a strong opponent in qualifying, the Eagles will expect to overcome Cape Verde — who currently sit 69th in the FIFA rankings — though another defeat would surely disappoint their fans.
Cape Verde centre-back Logan Costa, who missed most of the 2025–2026 season with Villarreal due to a knee injury, could return to the starting lineup on Sunday ahead of the World Cup.
If Costa starts, he is likely to partner Roberto Lopes of Shamrock Rovers in the heart of Bubista’s defence, flanked by Wagner Pina from Columbus Crew and Sidny Lopes Cabral from Benfica.
As for Serbia, they will be without several key players and senior figures for this friendly, including goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Elsewhere, Bournemouth centre-back Veljko Milosavljevic misses out through injury, with Petar Petrovic called up to replace the 18-year-old.
As a result, Strahinja Pavlovic is expected to start in goal, shielded by a central defensive pairing of Strahinja Erakovic and Strahinja Pavlovic.
Further forward, Millwall striker Mihailo Ivanovic is tipped to lead the line, supported by Veljko Birmancevic, Andrija Maksimovic, and Andrija Zivkovic in behind.
Cape Verde: Vozinha; Pina, Costa, Lopes, S Cabral; Duarte, Lenini; Mendes, Arcanjo, J Cabral; Livramento
Serbia: Stankovic; Mimovic, Erakovic, Pavlovic, Bukinac; Stankovic, Petrovic; Birmancevic, Maksimovic, Zivkovic; Mitrovic
Cape Verde impressed during qualification but have struggled to secure wins since then, and they will be eager to return to form ahead of the World Cup.
Serbia failed to reach the tournament this summer but still hope for a victory on Sunday, though the absence of several senior stars could hinder their efforts.
Predicted Score: Cape Verde 1-1 Serbia
Cape Verde enter this match with strong emotional momentum as they prepare for their World Cup debut. Playing as underdogs often brings out their discipline, especially given their solid defensive organization throughout African qualifying.
On the other hand, Serbia arrive in less-than-ideal condition. The absence of key players such as Mitrovic and Milinkovic-Savic significantly reduces their attacking power and creativity. Without their main anchors in midfield and attack, Serbia’s offensive rhythm could suffer.
Furthermore, Serbia’s recurring issues — conceding too easily and lacking sharpness in front of goal — remain evident. Even with stronger names on paper, such inefficiencies can drastically reduce their effectiveness on the pitch.
Cape Verde are likely to adopt a pragmatic approach, focusing on tight defence while capitalising on quick transitions or set pieces. This style often proves effective against European sides not in top form.
With both teams struggling for consistency, the match is expected to be tight with few chances. However, Cape Verde’s motivation and better organisation might just give them the edge to claim a narrow win.
Predicted Score: Cape Verde 1-0 Serbia
(TribunLombok / Irsan Yamananda / Sportsmole)
