Cape Verde’s group of underdogs made their World Cup debut in Atlanta on June 15 and held Spain, considered the second-best team in the world, to a 0–0 draw.
This marks only the fourth of the last 16 debutant teams to emerge from their first World Cup match with a draw. The other 12 were handed defeats.
And defeat appeared to be the anticipated end for Cape Verde, a tiny African island nation, as Spain held clear control of the pitch for most of the game. The European champions possessed the ball for 74 percent of the game, completed more than 730 passes—nearly two and a half times more than their opponents—took 11 corner kicks, and 27 shots, with seven of those getting on target.
But they were shut out by a veteran goalkeeper and an unwavering Cape Verde defense.
Known simply as Vozihna, which means “voice” in Portuguese, goalkeeper Josimar Jose Evora Dias played in his 91st international appearance at 40 years old. He made seven crucial saves on his way to his first Clean Sheet in World Cup competition.
Cape Verde also got their shots on net, including an exciting push that resulted in their first corner kick of the game at the 90th minute. But only one of their six shots was on target, and it was stopped by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón.
The scoreless game also means that Spain’s fans will have to wait another game for their exciting wunderkind, Lamine Yamal, to get his first goal on the world stage.
Yamal was kept out of Spain’s starting 11, but was unleashed as a substitute around the 67th minute of play. However, the 18-year-old had difficulty getting through Joao Paulo and the other Cape Verde defenders.
The draw awards Cape Verde with its first tournament point, and follows fellow debutant Curacao’s devastating 7–1 loss against Germany on June 14, despite sparking some initial hope with a 1–1 tie in the first half.
The day’s result also limits Spain to one point, putting one of the favorites to win the cup in a vulnerable position right at the start.
A few hours later, Saudi Arabia took the pitch for the first time in Miami, and the team that chalked a shocking win against Argentina four years ago opened 2026 with a draw against Uruguay.
The Green Falcons got on the board late in the first half on a goal from Abdulelah Al-Amri around the 41-minute mark. It was the first time Saudi Arabia had led a World Cup match after the first half since 1994.
But Uruguay kept pushing and finally found the back of the net at the 80-minute mark. A deflection from goaltender Mohammed Al-Owais bound right to the foot of Maxi Araújo, which sent it right back and past the yellow body into the net.
The 1-1 draw means that Group H is in a four-way tie with one point apiece.
Spain returns to the pitch in Atlanta against Saudi Arabia at 12 p.m. on June 21, and Cape Verde will face Uruguay in Miami that same day at 6 p.m.
