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Scotty & Izzy live on SN ExtraWorld Cup minnows Cape Verde stun favourites Spain
Reuters • June 16th, 2026 7:10 am
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, celebrates with the national flag after keeping Spain at bay | Photo: EPA
Cape Verde did not win, but they have delivered a World Cup debut for the ages by stifling Spain for a 0-0 draw in the opening match for both teams in Group H in Atlanta.
European champions Spain controlled the match in all phases but were not able to break down Cape Verde, the fifth lowest ranked team in the field at No. 67.
As a consequence the pair delivered the first scoreless draw of this year's event.
The Blue Sharks have goalkeeper Vozinha to largely thank for that. The 40-year-old finished his country's first World Cup match with seven saves.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha makes one of several saves as the African team kept Spain goalless | Photo: AP
Spain's first premier chance came in the 39th minute, when Marc Cucurella headed the ball down to Ferran Torres, who clanged the shot off the crossbar. The rebound came to Mikel Oyarzabal's area, but his header was tipped over by Vozinha.
Vozinha had already produced a fine reaction save to deny Torres and then tipped away Aymeric Laporte's glancing header.
Fabian Ruiz had another strong chance to open the scoring with a header in the box in the 56th minute, but directed it right at Vozinha.
Spain waited until the 71st minute to make any subs, when they brought on teenage sensation Lamine Yamal for his first appearance since April 22 due to a hamstring injury.
Even Lamine Yamal could not lift Spain with Willy Semedo among Cape Verde players keeping him quiet | Photo: AP
Yamal caused havoc on the right wing, but even he couldn't get the Spaniards on the scoresheet.
Spain's last great chance came in the 88th minute, when a cross found Oyarzabal open in the box. His first-time shot was deflected by a sliding Pico Lopes out for a corner kick.
Cape Verde earned their first corner kick in the 90th minute and could have stolen a sensational win from it as Diney Borges rose unchallenged, but headed into Unai Simon's arms.
The only time Spain won the World Cup, in 2010, they lost the opening game to Switzerland, so they will not panic. But Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, who meet later on Monday (local time) now know qualification will not be easy, even with three teams progressing from the majority of groups.
Cape Verde — a group of islands with around half a million inhabitants — are at their first World Cup and will now be dreaming of reaching the knock-out rounds.
