'I'm the luckiest person in the world' - Pico Lopes reflects on reaching World Cup and expecting first child

Cape Verde’s 3-0 victory over Eswatini on Monday ensured they finished top of their African zone group, becoming the second smallest country in tournament history to qualify after Iceland.

WORLD CUP BOUND: Roberto Lopes of Cape Verde celebrates his side's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with supporters. Pic: Cristiano Barbosa/Sportsfile.

Pico Lopes knew he was closing in on history by helping Cape Verde reach the World Cup but still there was something else, something more important dominating his thoughts.

"The funny thing about this week is that football has been the last thing on my mind. I really mean that,” insisted Lopes when speaking to OTS Media, before explaining why as he was sitting in the airport on his way back to Dublin.

“Me and my wife are expecting our first child. It could be any time now!

"I enjoyed the celebrations after the game but I'm really looking forward to getting home and hopefully being there for the birth of our child."

While his wife Leah, therefore, couldn’t be in attendance to witness Cape Verde’s 3-0 victory over Eswatini on Monday which ensured they finished top of their African zone group, becoming the second smallest country in tournament history to qualify after Iceland, the Shamrock Rovers defender was cheered on by other family members.

The Crumlin native qualifies for Cape Verde through his father Carlos and began playing for the nation after he was recruited via a message on LinkedIn from former manager Rui Aguas.

Carlos was highly unlikely to miss the chance to be there, and he was joined by the 33-year-olds' father-in-law Martin.

"They both made the trip. It's a long trip, as Martin found out,” continued Pico.

"To have them there was really special for me. It gave me extra motivation to try and get the job done and hopefully to see us through for the World Cup and we did that.

"I hope he's (Carlos) very proud. He's the reason that I'm playing for the Cape Verde national team, and to represent him and represent my family at the biggest stage in football is just amazing.

"I can't put it into words. I know some people would say a boy from Cumlin, playing in the League of Ireland his whole career, playing international football when I was 28, playing at a World Cup... I'm 33 now, I'll be 34 during it.

"It's been incredible. I'm probably the luckiest person in the world. I can't really put it into words at the moment.

"It's such a surreal feeling. The relief, the overwhelming relief at the end of the game, the realisation that we did it, we're going to go to the World Cup, like, I'm overjoyed at the moment and it's an amazing feeling.

“We’re there on merit. There was no good fortune. We were in a really tough group, and we came out on top of it on merit which is an enormous achievement and one we can take pride in.”