Born on Jan. 6, 1970, Pedro Leitão Brito, known as Bubista, is a former Cape Verde international who transitioned into coaching after his playing career. Before leading Cape Verde to its first-ever FIFA World Cup, held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the former centre-back spent one season in Spain’s second division with CD Badajoz in 1996. The club now competes in Spain’s third tier.
The following year, Bubista joined Angolan club Atlético Sport Aviação, where he spent six seasons. In 2002, he moved to Portugal to play for GD Estoril Praia before returning to Cape Verde in 2003, signing for Falcões do Norte, where he remained until 2006.
A Cape Verde international since 1991, Bubista earned 28 caps for the Blue Sharks, serving as captain on several occasions.
A long coaching career in Cape Verde
Like many former professional footballers, Pedro Leitão Brito later swapped his boots for the dugout. He has coached several clubs in Cape Verde, including Clube Sportivo Mindelense, Associação Académica do Mindelo and FC Batuque, where he was in charge during the 2018-19 season.
After serving as assistant coach of the Blue Sharks in 2007, Bubista was appointed head coach of the Cape Verde national team in January 2020.
He quickly guided the team to qualification for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), ending the country’s absence from the tournament after missing the previous two editions. Cape Verde’s campaign ended in the round of 16.
At the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, Bubista led the Blue Sharks to the quarterfinals for only the second time in the nation’s history after their run in 2013.
He then made history by guiding Cape Verde to its first-ever FIFA World Cup finals, a landmark achievement that earned him the CAF Coach of the Year award at the 2025 CAF Awards.
Pedro Brito Bubista, Cape Verde head coach at the 2026 World Cup. AFP
A surprise package at the World Cup
If there is one achievement that defines RS Berkane’s new head coach, it is undoubtedly Cape Verde’s impressive run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Drawn into a group featuring eventual world champions Spain, Cape Verde entered the tournament as clear underdogs with little to lose but plenty to prove.
The Blue Sharks made an immediate statement by holding Spain to a surprise 0-0 draw in their opening match.
They followed that performance by scoring their first-ever FIFA World Cup goals in a 2-2 draw against Uruguay before closing the group stage with another goalless draw against Saudi Arabia.
Cape Verde finished second in the group behind Spain to qualify for the round of 32, having conceded just two goals throughout the group stage. Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha was one of the team’s standout performers.
The country’s World Cup dream eventually came to an end in the round of 32 against a more experienced Argentina side. The Blue Sharks pushed the 2022 world champions all the way, drawing level after the hour mark and coming close to producing one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history before ultimately falling 3-2 after an own goal.
Although eliminated, Cape Verde’s first appearance on football’s biggest stage left a lasting impression and confirmed that Bubista’s side will be one to watch in the years ahead.
The Cape Verdean coach now begins a new chapter in Morocco with RS Berkane, a club hoping to return to the heights it reached during the 2024-25 season.
