The CBF and the FCF have held talks in Rio de Janeiro, just days ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™
Over the course of three days, FCF members have been given the opportunity to visit training facilities and gain insight into professional set-ups
“This visit reflects the kind of cooperation the beautiful game needs,” said Matheus Senna, Director of Development at the CBF
With the FIFA World Cup 2026™ just around the corner, FCF members have travelled to Rio de Janeiro to meet their counterparts at the CBF.
The three-day visit, organised with FIFA’s support, brought together members of both associations with the aim of strengthening cooperation through a targeted exchange of knowledge and institutional collaboration.
“Our visit to the CBF was marked by exceptional hospitality, institutional cooperation and knowledge-sharing. We believe this could prove to be a historic milestone for the sustainable development of football between Cabo Verde and Brazil, strengthening the strategic relationship between the two associations,” said national technical director Rui Costa, who was one of the FCF’s representatives alongside vice-president Inácio dos Santos Carvalho.
Cabo Verde are set to make their FIFA World Cup™ debut this June, and members of the association were given the opportunity to visit key training facilities and learn more about the set-ups of several Brazilian clubs. This created valuable opportunities to exchange knowledge and experience, offering first-hand insight into operational models and best practice.
“This visit, backed by FIFA, reflects the kind of cooperation the beautiful game needs: Member Associations opening their doors and sharing their knowledge,” added Matheus Senna, Director of Development at the CBF.
The FCF held meetings with key departments at the CBF, including Development, Competitions and Refereeing. The discussions focused on identifying specific areas of collaboration and laying the foundations for a medium- to long-term partnership, moving beyond a one-off visit towards structured a framework for cooperation.
“Over the past few days, our colleagues from Cabo Verde have worked closely with different departments at the CBF, visited the training facilities of major Brazilian clubs, and experienced first-hand the atmosphere at the Maracaná. But beyond the programme, what really matters is the exchange,” he added.
The CBF, whose men’s side will feature at their 23rd World Cup in a matter of days, the only country to have taken part in every edition to date, is also turning its attention to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™, the first to be held in South America. This makes it a key source of knowledge for the FCF.
“The CBF and the Cabo Verdean Football Association operate in very different realities, which is exactly why moments like these are so important: when associations from different contexts come together, both parties always have something to learn and take away from the experience,” said Matheus Senna. “We hope this visit is not just a one-off event, but the start of a lasting exchange that benefits both parties.”
After several days of collaboration and knowledge-sharing, both Member Associations have agreed to establish a formal framework for cooperation, including a memorandum of understanding, while also identifying priority areas and committing to a clear roadmap with defined objectives, responsibilities and monitoring mechanisms.
On this matter, Jair Bertoni, Director of the Member Associations Division (Americas), said: “Global football development is strengthened when Member Associations share knowledge, experience and solutions to common challenges. At FIFA, we firmly believe that some of the most valuable lessons come through direct exchange between associations, regardless of their size, location or level of development.”
“We’re delighted to have been able to bring the Brazilian and Cabo Verdean Football Associations closer together, fostering collaboration based on mutual learning, trust and a shared vision for the future. We hope this is the beginning of a lasting partnership that strengthens both associations and supports the growth of football, creating more opportunities for future generations both on and off the pitch and helping to make football truly global,” he concluded.
This initiative highlights FIFA’s role in bringing Member Associations together and facilitating tailored development pathways. In this context, the collaboration is particularly valuable given the strong linguistic, cultural and structural affinities shared between Brazil and Cabo Verde, which enable meaningful and practical knowledge transfer.
FIFA’s role in facilitating the process ensured alignment of objectives, provided technical guidance and will continue to support the next steps, including the formalisation of the partnership and the implementation of the agreed activities.