Spain held by 64th-ranked Cape Verde in 1st major World Cup shock
- Today, Spain faces tournament debutants Cape Verde at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for their World Cup Group H opener.
- Seeking redemption after a 2022 Round exit, Spain looks to add to its trophy case, while Cape Verde aims to prove its capability as a first-time World Cup qualifier.
- Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente confirms 18-year star Lamine Yamal may play despite a recent hamstring injury, though he might not manage 90 minutes.
- Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes emphasizes the team's 'collective spirit' ahead of the match, acknowledging the difficulty of facing one of the world's best teams.
- Spain may utilize a second-string side to keep main players rested for tougher Group fixtures against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
535 Articles
535 Articles
International Powerhouse Faces Shocking Upset In One Of Four World Cup Surprises On Monday
On Monday, Groups G and H began their group play in the 2026 World Cup, ending in a strange result of four ties across all matches. International soccer giants such as Spain and Belgium took the field, surprisingly struggling against lesser competition. On the other side, the later matches of Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay and Iran vs. New Zealand finished in draws, leaving the groups open for anyone to win. Spain, which is one of the odds-on favorite…
European Champion Spain is embarrassed to start the World Cup against the number 67 of the world rankings, Cape Verde. For Austria it finally starts – after 10,221 days you can again stand in place at a world championship – opponent is Jordan. You get the most important World Cup information daily in our podcast „Sportkrone Inside". Have fun!
Cape Verde’s battle against Spain broke all the forecasts of the 2026 World Cup. The small African archipelago came with the sign of being the weakest team in Group H and drew a surprising tie to the Red Fury. Even, even the presence of the star Lamine Yamal in the Atlanta Stadium could not avoid equality. After distributing points with the African team, the despondency spread almost automatically in the Spanish sports press. In Marca, for examp…
Marc Cucurella faced a poor reception from some of the Spanish fans during Spain's surprising 0-0 draw with Cape Verde at the World Cup, despite being one of La Roja's standout players in the match. The left-back was booed repeatedly every time he touched the ball, while chants were heard from the stands calling him a "traitor". According to reports from the stadium, the fans' reaction is linked to his recent transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid…
Africa: Cape Verde Stun Spain to Claim Historic Point On World Cup Debut
A disciplined and courageous Cape Verde produced one of the biggest results in their football history by holding European champions Spain to a goalless draw in their opening Group H match at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Atlanta on Monday.

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