Spain’s reign at the top of the World Cup power rankings is over, and the team that ended it wasn’t France, Argentina, or Brazil. It was Cape Verde.
A 0-0 draw on June 15 against a nation ranked somewhere around 64th to 67th in the world was enough to knock Spain off the No. 1 perch it had occupied since roughly September 2025. The result sent ripples through prediction markets, where traders had staked millions on what they assumed would be a routine Spanish victory.
How a 40-year-old goalkeeper rewrote the script
Cape Verde’s defense turned in one of the tournament’s most memorable performances. Their 40-year-old goalkeeper was the star, keeping Spain’s attack completely neutralized for 90 minutes.
Multiple power rankings that had placed Spain at No. 1 among the 48 World Cup teams reshuffled their lists in the aftermath. The team that won Euro 2024 and had looked like the tournament favorite suddenly looked vulnerable.