From Seinajoki to the world: Pires of Finland's SJK makes Cape Verde squad

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pires-kelvin/0MWz2VvQ/"]Pires[/a] becomes the first Veikkausliiga player selected for a World Cup since [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/abdallah-el-said/juiV8qB5/"]Abdallah El Said[/a] of KuPS represented another African nation, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a], at the 2018 edition in Russia.[/p][p]First called up for Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in 2019, Pires didn't make his international debut for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cape-verde/MocyWdm7/"]Cape Verde[/a] until September 2021, when The Blue Sharks lost a 2022 World Cup qualifier to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nigeria/EBE2Xb3l/"]Nigeria[/a], then featured in a friendly win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liechtenstein/8KIf01Ed/"]Liechtenstein[/a] in 2022.[/p][p]Despite not playing in any of Cape Verde's qualifiers for this summer's tournament, Pires forced himself back into coach Bubista's thinking at the perfect time - [b]he featured in a friendly against Egypt last November before winning his fourth cap and scoring his first international goal in the FIFA Series in March against none other than [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/finland/QuVpPpic/"]Finland[/a].[/b][/p][p]That was enough for the 26-year-old to earn himself a place in a 26-man squad that features players who ply their domestic trade in 14 different countries, including the USA, UAE, Ireland, Bulgaria, Portugal and Israel.[/p][embed guid="43253972-eafd-4b5b-b7cf-e4f38d045008" url="https://x.com/SJK_Seinajoki/status/2056401542245171289" social-type="twitter" /][p]Pires will be hoping to get a few more international minutes under his belt when Cape Verde meet [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/serbia/8Kl6iq0i/"]Serbia[/a] in a pre-tournament friendly in Lisbon, Portugal, before they travel to the United States.[/p][p][b]Cape Verde will make their [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/cape-verde-MocyWdm7/spain-bLyo6mco/?mid=Iiqjm5Pq"]World Cup debut on 15th June[/a] against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] in Atlanta, then face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uruguay/xMk44orG/"]Uruguay[/a] in Miami on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/cape-verde-MocyWdm7/uruguay-xMk44orG/?mid=4pPp9nn3"]21st June[/a] (00:00 CEST on 22nd June) before completing a tough set of Group H fixtures against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/saudi-arabia/biSY8ox4/"]Saudi Arabia[/a] on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/cape-verde-MocyWdm7/saudi-arabia-biSY8ox4/?mid=487Xar9k"]26th June[/a] (02:00 CEST on 27th June) in Houston.[/b][/p][p]Beginning his career with Cape Verdean club Batuque, Pires moved to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sjk/hj3ima3I/"]SJK[/a] from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/trencin/lSieUMnE/"]AS Trencin[/a] in Slovakia, initially on loan in 2024 before making the move permanent a year ago. He missed the opening game of the 2026 season due to his international commitments, but has since not missed a minute of league action for the Seinajoki side, scoring against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mariehamn/C8bOhcyj/"]Mariehamn[/a] last month.[/p][p]He will therefore be a big loss for the side sat 10th in the Veikkausliiga, who will be without Pires for at least five league matches.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/world/world-cup/"]Flashscore is your home for this summer's World Cup.[/a][/b][/p]