Sports
Cape Verde make history, set up Argentina showdown after Saudi draw
World Cup debutants Cape Verde have qualified for the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia on Friday.
The result, combined with Spain's 1-0 victory over Uruguay, saw Cape Verde finish second in Group H with three points after drawing all three of their group matches.
The tiny island nation, with a population of just over 500,000, will now face reigning champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, in the Round of 32 in Miami on July 3.
Emotions ran high after the final whistle in Houston. Cape Verde's players and supporters waited anxiously for confirmation of Spain's victory before erupting into celebrations when the news finally arrived.
"I'm living in a dream, to be honest," midfielder Deroy Duarte said after the match.
Head coach Bubista, draped in his country's flag, praised his team's determination.
> "We had this in our minds and heads that we could get to this stage. We are proud to get here and have shown the world that we are a small country, but we fight for what we want. To us, nothing is impossible."
Cape Verde's remarkable campaign began with a memorable 0-0 draw against Spain before they earned another impressive 2-2 draw against two-time world champions Uruguay. Their third consecutive draw proved enough to secure a historic place in the knockout rounds.
Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha once again played a crucial role, while midfielders Jamiro Monteiro and Kevin Pina both came close to scoring in the second half. Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais also produced an important save to deny Laros Duarte late in the game.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's hopes suffered another setback when experienced defender Hassan al-Tambakti was forced off with an injury in the first half.
Spain topped Group H with seven points and will face the runners-up from Group J, while Uruguay and Saudi Arabia were eliminated. Cape Verde's reward is a dream encounter with Argentina as they continue one of the tournament's most remarkable underdog stories.
