World Cup Roundup: Cape Verde do the unthinkable against Spain

What if I told you that the only scoreless game on Monday produced the moment of the day? Yes, there were late equalizers and upsets in another four-match day at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but only one will go down in the tournament’s history books.

Here’s everything you might have missed on Day 5 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

Spain vs Cape Verde

• In a stunning turn of events, Cape Verde, the second smallest country in the 2026 FIFA World Cup by population size, picked up a point in its World Cup debut against Spain at the Atlanta Stadium. The last debutant to get a point at the World Cup was Iceland in 2018. Senegal was the last team to win a World Cup debut in 2002.
• Spain is second in the FIFA world rankings, while Cape Verde is number 67. The gap of 65 places is the ninth largest gap in the world rankings in a World Cup match.
• Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha became the third-oldest goalkeeper (40 years, 12 days) to keep a clean sheet in a men’s World Cup match after Peter Shilton (40 years, 281 days) and Dino Zoff (40 years, 130 days). Vozinha saved all seven shots on goal from Spain.
• Since scoring his last FIFA World Cup goal against Japan in 2022, Spain have had 49 shots and completed 2,500 passes in the competition without finding the net, per RECORD. Spain starting striker Mikel Oyarzabal became the first player on record since 1966 to play the first 30 minutes of a FIFA World Cup match without touching the ball once.
• Lamine Yamal had more dribbles (five) than any other player, despite coming on in the 71st minute.

Belgium vs Egypt

• Egypt, in its return to the World Cup, played Belgium to a 1-1 draw at the Seattle Stadium. Egypt is now 0W-2D-2L all-time in World Cup openers, while Belgium’s last loss in a World Cup opener came in 1986 against Mexico.
• Mo Salah, who turned 34 on Monday, assisted Emam Ashour’s goal for Egypt, making him the first ever male African player to have a World Cup goal assist on his birthday.
• Romelu Lukaku came on as a substitute in the 66th minute and forced an equalizer 22 seconds after coming on. That goal ended a run of 325 minutes of World Cup football for Belgium without scoring since Michy Batshuayi’s goal in its opening group stage match in Qatar 2022.
• This was Belgium’s fourth World Cup match in a row with exactly three shots on target.
• Egypt remain winless all-time at the World Cup, now 0W-3D-5L.

Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay

• The second time wasn’t the charm for Saudi Arabia, but they managed to share points with Uruguay in their World Cup opener at the Miami Stadium. Saudi Arabia is now 1W-2D-4L all-time in World Cup openers, with its lone win against Argentina in 2022.
• Saudi Arabia scored the opening goal in a World Cup game for the first time since 1994, and is now 2W-1D-1L all-time at the World Cup when they scored first.
• Maximiliano Araújo’s goal in the 80th minute rescued a point for Uruguay. Fifteen of Uruguay’s 55 World Cup goals in the group stage have come in the 80th minute or later.
• Araújo became the first Uruguayan player to score on his World Cup debut since Diego Forlán in 2002.
• It was the first time since 2002 that Uruguay participated in a World Cup without Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani.

Iran v New Zealand

• Iran and New Zealand had their chances, but both countries had to settle for a 1-1 draw at the Los Angeles Stadium. There are now three groups that have four teams at the same time, which has never happened in World Cup history. The last time there were four draws in a single day in a World Cup was 68 years ago.
• Elijah Just recorded the first ever brace by a New Zealand player in a World Cup match. Chris Wood also became the first New Zealand player to register two assists in a World Cup match ever.
• New Zealand had eight shots on target, the most in a game in World Cup history.
• Michael Boxall became New Zealand’s oldest ever World Cup player at 37 years and 302 days.
• Ehsan Hajsafi became the first Iranian player to play 10 World Cup matches.

THE BEST OF THE DAY

Today’s Rescue

Vozinha began playing football professionally in 2007 for his local club, Batuque, in Cape Verde. Almost two decades later, the 40-year-old goalkeeper was given the opportunity to show his class, recording a clean sheet against Spain. Six of his seven saves came from inside the box, and four of them were diving saves.

Today’s Assist

Mohammad Mohebi gets the hero’s treatment for his decisive equalizer in the 64th minute, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the absolutely perfect cross from Ramin Rezaeian, who had just enough power to get into the box and just enough finesse for Mohebi to get his head on it.

Today’s goal

Mo Salah received something of a birthday present from Emam Ashour, who settled Salah’s pass from just outside the penalty area and struck a low-powered shot that Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Ahmed Shobeir could not get hold of despite his best efforts. And the cherry on top? Salah was credited with the assist. Happy Birthday, Mo!

That’s what the extended tournament is all about. Against all odds, Cape Verde earned a point in their first ever World Cup match by shutting out Spain, and the scenes after the match were something to behold, from the emotional players to the electrifying supporters.