Crew defender Steven Moreira is heading to the FIFA World Cup.
Moreira was named to Cape Verde’s 25-player World Cup roster on May 18, an achievement the 31-year-old called “every soccer player’s dream” in a social media post following the team announcement.
“Since I was little, I’ve watched this competition imagining one day being able to experience it,” Moreira said via X. “So today, having the opportunity to fight for this dream with my country is an immense source of pride.”
La Coupe du Monde, c’est le rêve de tout footballeur.
Depuis petit, je regarde cette compétition en imaginant un jour pouvoir vivre ça… alors aujourd’hui, avoir l’opportunité de me battre pour ce rêve avec mon pays, c’est une immense fierté.Merci pour le soutien
Capo Verde 🇨🇻 pic.twitter.com/NtigcJPxpV— Steven Moreira (@S_MoreiraOff) May 18, 2026
Moreira made his international debut for Cape Verde in 2023 during a World Cup qualifier against Cameroon after previously playing for France at the youth level. Since his debut, Moreira has tallied 18 appearances for the national team, which includes five games during Cape Verde’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal run.
On Oct. 13, Moreira started in the 3-0 victory over Eswatini that qualified Cape Verde for its first World Cup. Cape Verde is the third-smallest country to ever reach the World Cup, with a population of over 529,000.
Playing in Group H, Cape Verde opens the group-stage round against Spain on June 15. Cape Verde will also face Uruguay and Saudi Arabia during the group-stage game.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew’s Steven Moreira named to Cape Verde World Cup roster
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