Cape Verde finished second in Group H with three draws and will face the world champions in a knockout format.
Published June 27, 2026
Cape Verde, playing in the World Cup for the first time, will play reigning champions Argentina in the knockout stage after a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia to extend their fairytale journey.
Friday’s stalemate against Houston and Spain’s 1-0 victory over Uruguay meant the team entered the tournament ranked 67th in the tournament, second in Group H behind Spain.
The island nation of just over 500,000 people, unbeaten in their three group matches, will open a new chapter in their remarkable story when they face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Miami on July 3.
Spain lost 0-0 to Cape Verde in the first round and finished with seven points, with the debutant team returning home with three points and Uruguay and Saudi Arabia both with two points.
Spain will face the second-placed team in Group J, either Algeria or Austria.
As history unfolds, Cape Verde coach Bubista has changed half of his starting team, some of which were mandatory, but kept heroic goalkeeper Vosinha in place.
The 40-year-old stopper single-handedly saved Cape Verde to a famous point against European champions Spain in their first World Cup match.
Cape Verde, off the west coast of Africa, then bravely held out a 2-2 draw with two-time champions Uruguay.
So they showed an almost unbelievable shot in the final round against a still-living Saudi Arabia.
At the same time, in Guadalajara, Spain and Uruguay faced off in an unexpectedly tense group that ultimately ended in a decider.
Cape Verde had a slight advantage in the first half against the Saudi Arabian team in Houston, drawing 1-1 with Uruguay, but lost 4-0 to Spain.
Saudi Arabia suffered a blow in the 33rd minute when experienced defender Hassan Al Tanbakhti was injured and was carried off on a stretcher.
In the game against Mexico, Spain took the lead just before the end of the first half, and the Cape Verde fans in Houston cheered the news.
Willy Semedo’s shot missed the Saudi post, but neither team seriously threatened in a tense first half.
At this point, Cape Verde had advanced at the expense of Uruguay.
Three minutes after the break, Jamiro Monteiro had a great chance from close range, but his finish was poor. Kevin Pina then took a shot from distance, but it just missed the target.
The tension increased even more in the final quarter, but Saudi Arabia lacked ingenuity even as they chased after the match.
In the 75th minute, goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Owais made an important stop from Lalos Duarte to prevent a goal from being conceded.
One point was enough for Cape Verde, but if anything, they were more likely to score in the closing stages of the game.
