Thursday’s matches at the 2026 World Cup: schedules and broadcast

Argentina needed extra time to beat Cape Verde 3-2 and qualify for the round of 16 of the World Cup. Lionel Scaloni’s team, which defends the title, faced an opponent who was not intimidated and who came close to forcing penalties.

Messi continues making history

Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a goal that consolidated him as the all-time leading scorer in World Cups, with 20 goals. The Argentine captain also became the first player to score in eight consecutive matches in the tournament. However, his celebration was not enough to give the team peace of mind.

Cape Verde, debutant in the Cup, tied the match in the 59th minute through Deroy Duarte. The African team, which advanced as second in the group, showed defensive solidity and its goalkeeper Vozinha had an outstanding performance, stopping several of Messi’s shots.

Goals in extra time

In the second minute of the first extra time, Lisandro Martínez made it 2-1 after a corner kick from Messi. But Sidny Lopes Cabral responded with a great goal from the corner in the 102nd minute.

The final 3-2 came at 110 minutes, when a header from Cristian Romero deflected off Diney Borges. Argentina maintained the advantage with key performances by goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who stopped dangerous shots in the final minutes.

The match, played at the Miami stadium in front of nearly 50,000 Argentine fans, was one of the most intense of the Cup. Argentina is still alive and Messi continues to expand his legend.

Guillermo Almada has taken the reins of América, replacing André Jardine. The Uruguayan strategist arrives after a complicated experience in Spanish soccer, where he coached Valladolid and Real Oviedo without good results.

Despite this, Almada received offers to continue in Europe. However, he decided to return to Mexico to coach the Águilas.

“A pleasure and an important challenge for me. After my departure I had many offers to stay in European football, but when America arrived I didn’t even think about it, it is a situation that presents itself to you once in a lifetime,” declared Almada.

Reception of the squad and objectives

Regarding how he has been received by a group that worked with Jardine for three years, Almada assured that the arrangement is “spectacular.”

“I have found a spectacular willingness among the players to face all the challenges we have and face them with the greatest responsibility of winning, there is no other reality in this club,” said the former coach of Santos and Pachuca.

For his part, Santiago Baños, sports president of América, made the objective of the semester clear.

“The requirement that this club has is to fight for all the titles. The first commitment is in the Leagues Cup, the idea is to close the reinforcements as quickly as possible so that they can integrate into the work necessary to face the League and then focus fully on the League, be protagonists and, I repeat, try to look for another title,” said the manager.

A 40-year-old goalkeeper who thrilled the world

Cape Verde reached the round of 32 of the World Cup without winning a single match. And yet, his time in the tournament will be remembered. Much of the credit goes to Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who was about to star in one of the biggest surprises in football history.

On Friday, the Blue Sharks fell 3-2 to Argentina in overtime. Lionel Messi had to sweat to avoid the hit. But the scoreboard does not reflect Cape Verde’s feat.

The path of a debutante

The African team debuted with a goalless draw against Spain, with Vozinha as a figure. Then, two more draws were enough for them to advance from the group stage. The goalkeeper fulfilled his dream: his mother traveled to the United States to see him play.

Against Argentina, Vozinha grew bigger. He stopped at least four of Messi’s shots in the last 60 minutes of the game:

• At 63′, he blocked a point-blank shot, narrowing the angle.
• In the 73rd minute, he deflected an incoming free kick with his outstretched hand.
• In added time, he dropped to his knees to save a low free kick.
• Already in extra time, he flew to his left to deflect another shot from the Argentine star.

But Messi’s hierarchy weighed: he gave a goal and an assist from a corner kick, and Lautaro Martínez scored the final goal in the second extra time.

More than a defeat

Cape Verde is the smallest nation in area that has reached a World Cup. Its population is equivalent to 1% of that of Argentina. For his participation, he will receive 11 million dollars from FIFA.

The team made itself known on the biggest stage. And Vozinha, with his mother in the stands, earned the respect of the world.