Cape Verde, a volcanic archipelago off the west coast of Africa with a population of roughly 529,000, just earned their first-ever World Cup point. They did it against Spain, the reigning European champions and co-favorites to win the entire tournament.
The Group H opener on June 15, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta ended 0-0.
How Cape Verde survived 90 minutes of Spanish siege
Spain did what Spain does. They controlled the ball, moved it with surgical precision, and created chances at will. Approximately 70% of possession belonged to La Roja in the first half alone.
They registered 27 shots on goal across the match. Twenty-seven. For context, that’s the kind of volume that usually produces three or four goals against most international sides.
