World Cup review: Cape Verde does the unthinkable against Spain

What if I told you that Monday’s one scoreless game produced the moment of the day? Sure, 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 may have missed on matchday five 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, secured a point in their World Cup debut against Spain at the Atlanta Stadium. The last debutant to score a point at the World Cup was Iceland in 2018. Senegal were the last team to win a World Cup debut in 2002.
• Spain is ranked second in the FIFA world rankings, while Cape Verde is 67th. 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 and 12 days) to keep a clean sheet in a men’s World Cup match, after Peter Shilton (40 years and 281 days) and Dino Zoff (40 years and 130 days). Vozinha defended all seven of Spain’s shots on target.
• Since scoring their last FIFA World Cup goal against Japan in 2022, Spain have taken 49 shots and completed 2,500 passes in the competition without finding the net, according to OPTA. Spain’s starting striker Mikel Oyarzabal became the first player since 1966 to play the first 30 minutes of a FIFA World Cup match without once touching the ball.
• Lamine Yamal completed 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, faced Belgium to a 1-1 draw at the Seattle Stadium. Egypt now has a record of 0W, 2L and 2L in opening World Cup matches, while Belgium’s last defeat in a World Cup opening match was in 1986 against Mexico.
• Mo Salah, who turned 34 on Monday, contributed to Emam Ashour’s goal for Egypt, making him the first African male player to contribute to a World Cup goal on his birthday.
• Romelu Lukaku came on in the 66th minute and forced the equalizer 22 seconds after entering the field. The goal ended a run of 325 minutes in the FIFA World Cup for Belgium without scoring, dating back to Michy Batshuayi’s goal in their opening group stage match at Qatar 2022.
• It was Belgium’s fourth consecutive World Cup match with exactly three shots on goal.
• Egypt remains winless all-time at the World Cup, now 0W-3D-5D.

Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay

• The second time was not good for Saudi Arabia, but they managed to share the points with Uruguay in their World Cup opener at Miami Stadium. Saudi Arabia now has a 1W-2L-4L record in opening World Cup matches, with their only victory coming against Argentina in 2022.
• Saudi Arabia scored the first goal in a World Cup match for the first time since 1994 and now has a World Cup record of 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss when scoring first.
• Maximiliano Araújo’s goal in the 80th minute allowed Uruguay to salvage a point. Fifteen of Uruguay’s 55 goals in the World Cup group stage came 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 vs 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 with four teams tied at any given time, which has never happened in the history of the World Cup. The last time there were four draws in a single day at a World Cup was 68 years ago.
• Elijah Just recorded the first brace by a New Zealand player in a World Cup match. Chris Wood also became the first New Zealand player to record two assists in a World Cup match.
• New Zealand had eight shots on target, their most in a match in World Cup history.
• Michael Boxall became the oldest New Zealand player at the World Cup at 37 years and 302 days.
• Ehsan Hajsafi became the first Iranian player to play 10 World Cup matches.

THE BEST OF THE DAY

Save of the day

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

Help of the day

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

Objective of the day

Mo Salah received a true birthday present from Emam Ashour, who settled Salah’s pass just outside the penalty area and slotted home a low shot that Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Ahmed Shobeir couldn’t get his hands on despite his best efforts. And the icing on the cake? Salah was credited with the assist. Happy birthday, Mo!

This is the objective of the expanded tournament. Against all odds, Cape Verde scored a point in their first ever World Cup match by shutting out Spain, and the scenes following the match were breathtaking, from the emotional players to the electric fans.