World Cup summary: Cape Verde does the unthinkable against Spain

What if I told you that Monday’s only scoreless game produced the moment of the day? Yes, there were late draws and upsets in another four-match round at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but only one will go down in the tournament’s history books.

Here’s everything you might have missed on Day 5 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

Spain vs Cape Verde

• In a surprising turn of events, Cape Verde, the second smallest country in the 2026 FIFA World Cup by population size, earned a point in its World Cup debut against Spain at Atlanta Stadium. The last debutant to get a point at the World Cup was Iceland in 2018. Senegal was the last team to win a debut match at a World Cup in 2002.
• Spain is in second place in the FIFA World Rankings, while Cape Verde is in 67th place. The difference of 65 places is the ninth largest difference in world ranking in a World Cup match.
• Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha became the third oldest goalkeeper (40 years, 12 days) to keep a clean sheet in a men’s World Cup match, after Peter Shilton (40 years, 281 days) and Dino Zoff (40 years, 130 days). Vozinha defended all seven shots on goal for Spain.
• Since scoring their last goal at the FIFA World Cup against Japan in 2022, Spain has taken 49 shots and completed 2,500 passes in the competition without finding the net, according to OPTA. Spanish starting forward Mikel Oyarzabal became the first player on record since 1966 to play the first 30 minutes of a FIFA World Cup match without touching the ball even once.
• Lamine Yamal took more dribbles (five) than any other player, despite coming on in the 71st minute.

Belgium vs Egypt

• Egypt, in its return to the World Cup, played Belgium and drew 1-1 at Seattle Stadium. Egypt is now 0W-2D-2L all-time in World Cup openers, while Belgium’s last loss in a World Cup opener was in 1986 against Mexico.
• Mo Salah, who turned 34 on Monday, assisted on Emam Ashour’s goal for Egypt, making him the first recorded African player to contribute a goal at the World Cup on his birthday.
• Romelu Lukaku came on as a substitute in the 66th minute and forced the tie 22 seconds after being on the field. That goal ended a streak of 325 minutes of World Cup football for Belgium without scoring, since Michy Batshuayi’s goal in their first match of the Qatar 2022 group stage.
• This was Belgium’s fourth consecutive World Cup match with exactly three shots on goal.
• Egypt remains winless in the World Cup, now 0W-3D-5L.

Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay

• The second time wasn’t the charm for Saudi Arabia, but they managed to split points with Uruguay in their first World Cup match at Miami Stadium. Saudi Arabia now has 1W-2D-4L all-time in World Cup openers, with their only win coming against Argentina in 2022.
• Saudi Arabia scored the first goal of a World Cup game for the first time since 1994, and is now 2W-1D-1L in World Cup history when scoring first.
• Maximiliano Araújo’s goal in the 80th minute saved a point for Uruguay. Fifteen of Uruguay’s 55 goals in the World Cup group stage came in the 80th minute or later.
• Araújo became the first Uruguayan player to score on his World Cup debut since Diego Forlán in 2002.
• This was the first time since 2002 that Uruguay participated in a World Cup without Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani.

Iran vs. New Zealand

• Iran and New Zealand had their chances, but both countries had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Los Angeles Stadium. Now there are three groups that have four teams tied on one point, something that has never happened in the history of the World Cups. The last time there were four draws in a single day at a World Cup was 68 years ago.
• Elijah Just recorded the first double by a New Zealand player in a World Cup match. Chris Wood also became the first New Zealand player to record two assists in a World Cup match.
• New Zealand took eight shots on goal, the most in a match in World Cup history.
• Michael Boxall became the oldest New Zealand player in a World Cup at 37 years and 302 days.
• Ehsan Hajsafi became the first Iranian player to play in 10 World Cup matches.

THE BEST OF THE DAY

Salvation of the day

Vozinha began playing soccer professionally in 2007 for his local club, Batuque, in Cape Verde. Almost two decades later, the 40-year-old goalkeeper was given the chance to show his class and kept a clean sheet against Spain. Six of his seven saves came from inside the box, and four of them were diving saves.

Assistance of the day

Mohammad Mohebi will get the hero treatment for his decisive equalizer in the 64th minute, but it wouldn’t have been possible without Ramin Rezaeian’s absolutely perfect cross, which had enough power to get into the box and enough finesse for Mohebi to head home.

Goal of the day

Mo Salah received a big birthday present from Emam Ashour, who placed Salah’s pass just outside the penalty area and fired a low shot that Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Ahmed Shobeir couldn’t reach despite his best efforts. And the icing on the cake? Salah was credited with the assist. Happy birthday, Mo!

This is what the expanded tournament is all about. Against all odds, Cape Verde earned a point in their first World Cup match by shutting out Spain, and the post-match scenes were something to behold, from the excited players to the electrified fans.