Instagram recently introduced its one-time ‘Instants’ photo-sharing feature that allows people to send images right to their friends or close friends’ inboxes. The feature appears to be a way to encourage users to send short-term, spontaneous shots to their close contacts via messages
West Asia crisis raises oil risks; India markets remain resilient: SEBI chiefIndian markets are capable of absorbing shocks before returning to a “normal trajectory” once uncertainties ease Published on: May 18, 2026 5:07 PM IST By Debabrata Mohanty
A cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak is scheduled to arrive in the port city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands on Monday morning (May 18, 2026). The MV Hondius has spent the past six days sailing from the Canary Islands, where the remaining passengers were escorted off the vessel by
Malaysia said on Monday (May 18, 2026) it had ended a search for passengers of a migrant boat from Indonesia that sank off the country's western coast last week after the bodies of all 16 missing were recovered. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Perak state said 23 people were
Quote of the day by Bella Hadid: ‘I can’t wait to be a mom, I think that would make me truly happy’When Bella Hadid got candid on her vision for the future, family, and being an auntie to Khai, sister Gigi Hadid's daughter. Read her exact quote on motherhood. Published on: May 18
Dark mode vs light mode: Ophthalmologist explains when you should toggle which mode on phone for lower vision stressInstead of aesthetic purpose, medically approach the display modes on your phone to lower visual stress. Updated on: May 18, 2026 5:17 PM IST By Adrija Dey Share via Copy link Your
Mumbai landlord regrets renting out ₹80 lakh flat after dispute over unpaid electricity bill: 'Full-time stress job'A Mumbai-based landlord recently shared his frustration over managing a rented flat in Mira Road. Updated on: May 18, 2026 4:36 PM IST By Bhavya Sukheja Share via Copy link Owning a
‘Only four more months’: DMK leader's bold forecast on Vijay-led TVK regimeHe said that DMK president MK Stalin, who served as chief minister before Vijay’s sweeping victory in the April Assembly election, would soon return to power. Published on: May 18
From Iceland to Cape Verde: The 5 smallest countries ever to reach the World Cup
Cape Verde has qualified for its first World Cup, becoming the second smallest nation to achieve this feat. The island nation, with a population of around 525,000, secured its spot for the 2026 tournament. This achievement places them among a select group of small countries that have reached the prestigious global competition.
The tiny African island nation of Cape Verde qualified for the World Cup for the first time on Monday after beating Eswatini 3-0.
With a population smaller than that of the U.S. state of Vermont, Cape Verde is the second smallest country to make it to the men's World Cup since the first tournament in 1930.
Here's a look at the tiniest countries in World Cup history, based on their population when they appeared at the tournament:
Iceland
With a population of just over 350,000, Iceland became the smallest country to reach the World Cup when it qualified for the tournament in Russia in 2018.That was two years after the team famously eliminated England to reach the quarterfinals of the 2016 European Championship.
In Russia, Iceland managed a draw against Argentina but losses to Croatia and Nigeria placed it last in its World Cup group.
Cape Verde
The island nation off the coast of West Africa has about 525,000 inhabitants and is ranked 70th in the FIFA men's world ranking.Cape Verde earned a spot at the 2026 World Cup by finishing first in its African qualifying group ahead of Cameroon, one of the continent's top soccer powers.
The country which won independence from Portugal 50 years ago has appeared at the Africa Cup of Nations four times, and reached the quarterfinals in 2013 and 2023.
Of the countries that have qualified so far for next year's World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, it is by far the smallest.
Paraguay
The South American country had an estimated population of just under 1 million when it appeared at the inaugural World Cup in 1930.Paraguay was eliminated in the first round after losing to the United States and defeating Belgium.
The Paraguayans will make their ninth World Cup appearance next year after grabbing the last of South America's six direct qualifying spots.
Trinidad and Tobago
The Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago won an international playoff to earn its first and only World Cup appearance in 2006 in Germany.With a population of 1.3 million, it was the smallest country in that tournament by some margin.
Trinidad and Tobago salvaged a draw with Sweden but lost against England and Paraguay to finish last in its group.
It has not been back to the World Cup since.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland had an estimated 1.4 million inhabitants when it reached the 1958 World Cup.The team defeated Czechoslovakia, lost to Argentina and drew against Germany in the group stage. It was eliminated by France in the knockout phase.
Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! Northern Ireland also played in the World Cup in 1982 and 1986.
Source: EconomicTimes
Related Posts: Cape Verde, Home to Just 525,000, Create History To Book Maiden FIFA World Cup Appearance Not Qualified To Become UNSC Permanent Member Will the longer Cape sea route become the new normal to keep global trade going Elon Musk Nears Becoming First ‘Trillionaire’ In The World As Net Worth Soars $850 Billion ET AI Hackathon returns with a stronger second edition as its first edition nears completion For Harleen, its always team first, herself second Zohran Mamdani closing in on becoming first Muslim mayor of New York D Gukesh Feeling The Heat After Becoming World Champion Pakistan debuts its second indigenous Earth Observation Satellite from China
Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa played out a draw with Dutchman Jorden Van Foreest even as Germany's Vincent Keymer surged ahead following a facile victory in the fourth round of Super Chess Classic in Bucharest. With a sole win over Alireza Firouzja of France and three draws
1 days ago
‘People are earning more but losing peace’: Techie explains why life in Tier 1 cities is mentally drainingA techie said Tier 1 city life looked exciting from outside, but came with high rent, traffic and stress. Published on: May 18, 2026 5:00 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link
1 days ago
India’s higher education admissions are evolving as students and parents prioritise relevance over legacy. Curriculum quality, faculty readiness, employability, and visible modernisation are reshaping trust in universities. As AI transforms jobs and skills
1 days ago
‘Never give up’: Bengaluru engineer reveals how he landed Amazon job after 7 rejectionsA Bengaluru man revealed he faced 7 Amazon rejections in 5 years before finally landing his dream job there. Published on: May 18, 2026 1:51 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link A Bengaluru
1 days ago
Road crash in UP leaves 10 deadRoad crash in UP leaves 10 dead Published on: May 18, 2026 1:56 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Lakhimpur Kheri , Ten people were killed when a van collided head-on with a truck on the Sisaiya-Lakhimpur national highway on Monday, police said
1 days ago
The Madhya Pradesh Police has said that it was yet to find any links between the seven persons arrested for recently assaulting a Muslim man in a hotel in Bhopal, and any Hindutva organisations, The Indian Express reported on Monday. On May 10
1 days ago
Sangeeta Bijlani has reacted to Salman Khan’s recent shirtless photo, and her comment has gone viral, as they used to date each other and even almost got married. On Sunday, Salman shared a shirtless picture of himself, showing off his ripped physique and chiselled abs
1 days ago
Maha coaching firm director received NEET paper 10 days before exam, was ‘part of organised gang’HT has learnt that Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar was part of an organised gang who had the paper on his phone and had leaked it to several people. Updated on: May 18
1 days ago
Spinach malfati is a comforting, vegetarian twist on Italian dumplings, where soft spinach‑paneer parcels meet a rich, roasted‑pepper walnut tomato sauce. Instead of a simple cream‑based pasta, these malfati celebrate earthy flavours: blanched spinach and creamy paneer are shaped into rustic
1 days ago
ASI grants Hindus unrestricted daily access to MP’s disputed Bhojshala complexThe site will continue to be a protected monument under the AMASR Act 1958, with worship timings to be determined by the superintending archaeologist Published on: May 18, 2026 2:02 PM IST By Harsh Yadav
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Want richer sound for Netflix and gaming? Consider these smart TVs with powerful audio outputNo need to buy a soundbar for your TV, cinematic audio
1 days ago
‘Very difficult choices’: Putin running out of options in Ukraine as war stalls, says Estonia intel chiefRussia is losing more troops than it is recruiting in Ukraine war, says Estonia intelligence chief Kaupo Rosin amid mounting battlefield pressure Updated on: May 18
1 days ago
Senior AIADMK leader S Semmalai resigned from the party, citing immense mental anguish over recent developments and the party's current state. He expressed concern that internal conflicts were damaging the legacy of MGR and Jayalalithaa, leading him to step down with a heavy heart
1 days ago
Who is Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff who said he will not hire any more engineers?Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, announced no new engineer hires due to reliance on AI for coding tasks. While AI increased productivity by 30%. Updated on: May 18
1 days ago
The southwest monsoon is expected to hit Kerala on May 26, nearly a week ahead of its normal onset date of June 1, according to the India Meteorological Department. The weather office has also said the monsoon has already advanced into parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
1 days ago
Feeling backed up for days? Gastroenterologist shares a simple bathroom hack that can help with constipationIf you're struggling with constipation and incomplete bowel clearing, try out this simple hack. Dr Salhab explains why it works. Updated on: May 18
1 days ago
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake in China’s southwest region of Guangxi early on Monday (May 18, 2026) killed two and forced more than 7,000 in the city of Liuzhou to evacuate as search and rescue operations continue and authorities warn of transport disruptions.A magnitude 5
1 days ago
Indian content creator Ankush Bahuguna has shared an unpleasant experience from London after he said he faced homophobic comments on the streets for wearing a pink outfit. The fashion and lifestyle influencer posted a video on Instagram on May 17
1 days ago
Nancy Guthrie case: Daughter Annie Guthrie reads poem titled ‘Dear Missing’ in old video, sparks buzz, ‘How strange’Amid the search for Nancy Guthrie, a 2015 video of her daughter Annie Guthrie reading a poem titled ‘Dear Missing’ has surfaced on social media. Published on: May 18
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.We Tested the Best 1 Ton 3-Star ACs: Top Models That Cool Efficiently at 45°C (2026 Guide)These ACs come with energy saving inverter compressor technology and they are available with
1 days ago
An Indian court has told Apple to "fully cooperate" with investigators in an antitrust case related to the , not agreeing with the U.S. company's request to put the case on hold while it challenges the law governing antitrust penalties.The Delhi High Court said in an order posted on its
1 days ago
The Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted searches at premises linked to Aam Aadmi Party leader Deepak Singla and some others in an alleged bank loan fraud-linked money laundering case, PTI reported. The searches are being undertaken at locations in Delhi and Goa
1 days ago
₹3 lakh stipend, hotel stay: IIT student’s Bengaluru internship sparks debateAn IIT student’s internship package in Bengaluru has sparked a wave of reactions online after investor and entrepreneur Kush Agarwal shared details of the offer Updated on: May 18
1 days ago
An Indian travel vlogger has shared what he called one of the “worst" experiences from his Europe trip after a follower who invited him to stay at his home in Munich allegedly later demanded rent money and sent threatening messages. Travel creator Gautam Sachdeva spoke about the incident in an
1 days ago
Drinking iced drinks in summer? Gastroenterologist warns why it actually may backfire and make you feel ‘hotter’The cooling effect of iced drinks may actually be a deception. Know why the instant cooling feeling in your body may be unhealthy. Updated on: May 18
1 days ago
Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid has been granted interim bail by the Delhi High Court until June 2 following the death of his father. Currently lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with terror-funding charges, Rashid will be escorted by police during his temporary release
1 days ago
All four crew members ejected safely after two Navy jets collided and crashed on Sunday (May 17, 2026) during an air show at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in western Idaho, officials said. The collision involved two U.S. Navy EA18-G Growlers from the Electronic Attack Squadron 129 in Whidbey
1 days ago
