PinnedTue 16 Jun 2026 at 1:48amTue 16 Jun 2026 at 1:48amLive updates: Spain vs Cabo VerdeTue 16 Jun 2026 at 2:14amTue 16 Jun 2026 at 2:14am11' Cabo Verde still holding at 0-0By Andrew McGarryCabo Verde have made a solid start here, it's still 0-0 after 11 minutes. The Blue Sharks have been under a bit of pressure but there have been no huge openings for Spain.When Cabo Verde try to break, they look to the pace of forward Dailon Livramento. Nothing from it as yet.Tue 16 Jun 2026 at 2:07amTue 16 Jun 2026 at 2:07am3' Spain corner overturned by VARBy Andrew McGarryWe've had a slow start in Atlanta. Spain built their way down the right, and the ball went out for a corner.However, under the new rules for the World Cup, VAR can overrule if an incorrect corner is given, and they did just that. Tue 16 Jun 2026 at 2:04amTue 16 Jun 2026 at 2:04amWhere is Cabo Verde? Plus other factsBy Andrew McGarryYesterday we had the World Cup debut of the Caribbean nation of Curaçao, in their 7-1 loss to Germany.Today we have the first-ever game of Cabo Verde at the tournament.So where is Cabo Verde? It's a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa.The nation has nearly four times the population of Curaçao - nearly 525,000 compared to 158,000.The national team is known as the Tubarões Azuis (or Blue Sharks).They are ranked 67th in the world.Key EventTue 16 Jun 2026 at 2:04amTue 16 Jun 2026 at 2:04amWe are underway in AtlantaBy Andrew McGarryIt's a colourful scene in Atlanta ahead of Spain vs Cabo Verde (Getty Images)Here we go in Atlanta!Will Spain deliver a Germany-like performance and get plenty of goal difference?Can the underdogs the Blue Sharks emulate Curaçao and get on the scoresheet?We're going to find out over the next 90 minutes or so of play.Tue 16 Jun 2026 at 1:56amTue 16 Jun 2026 at 1:56amHere come the teams in Atlanta!By Andrew McGarrySpain comes out in their traditional red strip, while Cabo Verde are in all white.The Spanish players stand in line for the Marcha Real (Royal March), which is one of a handful of anthems that has no official lyrics.That's not stopping the players or the fans from roaring something out as they stand to attention.And now it's time for Cântico da Liberdade (Chant of Freedom), the Cabo Verde national anthem.Given the occasion and the task ahead of the Blue Sharks, I love these lyrics, which translate as:"Hope is / As big as the sea / Which embraces us".Key EventTue 16 Jun 2026 at 1:55amTue 16 Jun 2026 at 1:55amWorld Cup racism monitor urges FIFA to remove Australian referee over hand gesture on TV broadcastBy Andrew McGarryAPFIFA's discrimination monitor at the World Cup called Monday for a video review official to be removed for appearing to make a hand gesture resembling a white supremacist sign.When the official broadcast of Germany's opening game against Curaçao on Sunday cut pre-game to show the team of video review analysts, Shaun Evans from Australia made an "OK" symbol with his right hand in front of his right leg. Though the game was played in Houston, video officials work in Dallas at the World Cup broadcast center.In 2019, the gesture — with thumb and forefinger touched in a circle and other fingers outstretched — was designated a hate symbol by the New York-based Anti-Defamation League."Advice from our experts is that the gesture used clearly resembles an upside down ‘OK' hand symbol used as a ‘white power’ symbol in global far-right circles,” said the Fare network, a long-time partner of FIFA and European soccer body UEFA to monitor racist and discriminatory chants, flags and symbols at international games."Clearly this official should have no further role to play in this World Cup," Fare said in its statement, describing the gesture as "neo-nazi".FIFA was asked for comment.In Australia, the Professional Football Referees Association and governing body Football Australia were contacted for comment.It was unclear if Evans, working at his second straight World Cup and his first game at this edition, was making a political gesture or playing a children’s game prank.The "gotcha" or "circle game" is where someone flashes an upside-down OK sign below their waist and punches in the shoulder anyone who looks at it.It was appropriated a decade ago as a signal for white supremacy that started as a hoax on the far-right online message board 4chan.The sign got global attention in March 2019 in New Zealand, after it was made during the first court appearance by the white supremacist shooter who killed 51 Muslim worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch.Later in 2019 when the sign was designated as a hate symbol, Oren Segal, director of the ADL’s Center on Extremism, said context is key to interpreting whether an "OK" symbol is hateful or harmless.At the time, he said: "There is enough of a volume of use for hateful purposes that we felt it was important to add."Evans is among 30 video review analysts selected by FIFA to work at the World Cup being played in the United States, Canada and Mexico."Why is a VAR supervisor using this symbol at a global football event at the very moment he knows the cameras are on him?" Fare said. "We note that in the two subsequent games it appears TV directors have stopped introducing the VAR panel to the TV audience."Tue 16 Jun 2026 at 1:48amTue 16 Jun 2026 at 1:48amTeam news: Spain vs Cabo VerdeBy Andrew McGarryAs you might expect, it is a star-studded lineup for La Roja, from Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon to Manchester City defensive midfielder Rodri and central midfielder Pedri of Barcelona.But the real interest is up front, where coach Luis de la Fuente is mdealing with injury issues to two key forwards.Nico Williams (Athletic Club) has a hamstring strain, while Barcelona rising superstar Lamine Yamal has been recovering from a hamstring tear. Neither will start, and if they do play it will be with limited minutes.This leaves the starters as Barcelona's Ferran Torres and Real Sociedad's Mikel Oyarazabal.Here is how they line up.(Supplied)The key player for the Blue Sharks is Ryan Mendes, Cabo Verde's captain and most-capped and top-scoring player.The attacking midfielder/forward will be playing his 99th cap against Spain, and he has 22 international goals to his name.The shirts are ready for Cabo Verde's World Cup debut in Atlanta (Getty Images/FIFA)The 26 members of the squad are spread across the world, club-wise, from America's MLS to Turkiye's Süper Lig, to Cyprus's First Division, to La Liga, Liga Portugal, the Israeli Premier League and even Roberto "Pico" Lopes, who plays for Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland.Here is the lineup for Cabo Verde:VozinhaDiney BorgesRoberto LopesSidny ⁠CabralSteven MoreiraKevin PinaJovane CabralJamiro ‌MonteiroLaros DuarteDailon Livramento​Ryan MendesKey EventTue 16 Jun 2026 at 1:39amTue 16 Jun 2026 at 1:39amTunisia fires coach Sabri Lamouchi after World Cup lossBy Andrew McGarryReutersTunisia's 5-1 loss to Sweden proved the end of the line for coach Sabri Lamouchi (Getty Images/FIFA)Tunisia fired head coach Sabri Lamouchi on Monday after a lopsided ​loss in their first World Cup game.The Tunisian Football Federation announced his dismissal on its Instagram account. ​Written in ‌Arabic, the statement was translated by Google."An agreement has been officially reached to dismiss ‌coach Sabri Lamouchi," the statement ⁠read."Plans are underway to appoint Mondher ‌Kebaier as ​the national ‌team coach (on an interim basis) to complete the World Cup qualifying matches."Sweden routed Tunisia 5-1 in Sunday night's ​Group ‌F opener in Guadalupe, Mexico.Tunisia are scheduled to face Japan in ⁠the same stadium ‌on Saturday night before finishing ‌group play on June 25 against ‌the Netherlands in Kansas City.Lamouchi, 54, was hired in ‌January ​and was ⁠already under fire following a 5-0 loss to Belgium in a pre-tournament friendly on June 6 in Brussels.The ⁠Frenchman previously managed the Ivory Coast squad at ‌the 2014 ‌FIFA World Cup but failed ​to advance beyond the group stage in Brazil.Key EventTue 16 Jun 2026 at 1:18amTue 16 Jun 2026 at 1:18amWelcome to day five!By Andrew McGarryHello, good (very early) morning everyone and welcome to the ABC Sport live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026.We're back for day five of competition, my name is Andrew McGarry and I am delighted to be with you in the wee hours for the early stages of what will be another four-game day in the world game's premier tournament.Here's what we have for you today:2:00am AEST (1:30am ACST, 00:00am AWST) — Group H: Spain vs Cabo Verde @ Atlanta Stadium5:00am AEST (4:30am ACST, 3:00am AWST) — Group G: Belgium vs Egypt @ Seattle Stadium8:00am AEST (7:30am ACST, 6:00am AWST) — Group H: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay @ Miami Stadium11:00am AEST (10:30am ACST, 9:00am AWST) — Group I: Iran vs New Zealand @ Los Angeles Stadium