Cape Verde blow Norway away to win World Cup 2026 Biggest Overachiever in Readers' Awards

World Cup 2026 fan favourites Cape Verde have unsurprisingly been named the biggest overachievers of the tournament in the Sports Mole Readers' Awards.

The Blue Sharks - the second-smallest nation to ever compete at the World Cup alongside fellow debutants Curacao - stunned the planet in North America by qualifying for the knockout rounds with an unbeaten group-stage record.

Cape Verde held eventual winners Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to draws to finish second in Group H, earning a last-32 tie with 2022 champions Argentina in the process, and Bubista's men gave Lionel Messi and co a monumental scare.

The Group H runners-up came from behind twice against La Albiceleste, who ultimately needed an own goal from Diney to progress to the last 16 with a 3-2 win and break the hearts of Cape Verdean and neutral fans everywhere.

Nevertheless, the Blue Sharks were comfortable winners in the vote for the biggest overachievers with a 68% share, while Norway - who shocked Brazil to make the quarter-finals on their first World Cup appearance since 1998 - were a distant second with 27%.

Switzerland took 3% of the vote after reaching the last eight for the first time in 72 years, while Germany's conquerors Paraguay completed the quartet with 2% of the share.