Spain draws goalless against Cape Verde in its debut

Match summary

Uruguay rescued a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia on the first date of Group H of the 2026 World Cup. The match was played at the Miami stadium before a crowd that filled the stands.

Abdulelah Al-Amri opened the scoring for the Saudis in the 41st minute. He took advantage of a rebound from Fernando Muslera after a header from Hassan Altambakti on a corner kick.

Uruguay controlled the ball for much of the match (64% versus 36%). However, he did not manage to convert his chances until the 80th minute. Maximiliano Araújo equalized with a left-footed volley after goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais saved a header from Federico Viñas.

Al-Owais was a figure in preventing several goals from Uruguay. He responded to shots from Viñas, Valverde and De la Cruz. Muslera, for his part, kept his clean sheet after the first score. The Uruguayan goalkeeper is playing in his fifth World Cup.

Saudi Arabia, which surprised Argentina in Qatar 2022, chose to retreat in the second half. Uruguay insisted with centers and medium-distance shots. Manuel Ugarte hit the post in the 60th minute.

Upcoming matches

Uruguay will seek its first victory on Sunday the 21st against Cape Verde at the Miami stadium. Saudi Arabia will face Spain on the same day in Atlanta.

A historic debut for Cape Verde

When the ball rolls, the predictions fade. Cape Verde demonstrated it in its debut in the World Cup. With nothing to lose, the Africans drew 0-0 against Spain at the Atlanta stadium. A point that is worth gold for a team that is playing in its first World Cup.

Spain dominated, but did not score

Luis de la Fuente’s team controlled the ball throughout the game. However, the superiority never translated into goals. The Spaniards circulated the ball along the sides and inside, but there was a lack of precision in the last pass. They failed to break Cape Verde’s defensive lock.

Pedri tried from outside the area on a couple of occasions, without any major danger. The clearest action came at the end of the first half: Ferran Torres hit the crossbar with a shot. Immediately afterwards, Mikel Oyarzabal headed in, but goalkeeper Vozinha responded with a masterful stretch to send the ball for a corner kick.

Late reactions from Spain

The Spanish coach moved the bench until near the end. Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Dani Olmo and Mikel Merino entered with a few minutes remaining. Like the starters, they tried without success to find the goal. The insistence was overwhelming, but the Cape Verdean defense remained firm.

Cape Verde even had its chance. In one of the last plays, Diney Borges missed a clear shot that could have given them the victory. Time ran out and the scoreboard did not move.

A point that tastes like a triumph for Cape Verde

The Blue Sharks rescued a valuable draw in their World Cup debut. For them, this result is already a victory. Spain, on the other hand, has a bittersweet taste. But the World Cup is not defined on the first day. La Roja remains a favorite, although it will have to adjust its performance for the next matches.

The gesture that captured world attention

The fans of the Japanese team once again demonstrated their renowned civility during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After the match between Japan and the Netherlands, played last Sunday, June 14 at the Dallas Stadium (Texas), the Japanese fans cleaned the stands.

The match, corresponding to Group F, ended in a 2-2 draw, a result that surprised those who favored the European team. But what really went viral was the behavior of the Asian audience.

Through social networks, FIFA released a video where Blue Samurai fans can be seen collecting glasses, bottles, plates and napkins. Each person carried a blue bag to deposit waste.

A female fan member explained the reason in a brief interview included in the video:

“Respect for everything. Respect for the players, for the fans and also for the stadium. It’s an honor for us to be here, so we don’t want to leave everything in a mess. I think that’s the reason why we do it.”

This practice is not new. Japanese citizens have already performed it at other sporting events, such as the World Baseball Classic. It is interpreted as a sample of the level of education and discipline that characterizes its culture.

On social networks, thousands of people applauded the responsibility shown by the Japanese followers. Many believe that this action should be replicated in all countries.