Spain and Cape Verde play to a goalless draw in 2026 World Cup opener

In the opening match of Group H at the 2026 World Cup, Spain and Cape Verde drew 0-0 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This event marked Cape Verde's debut in a FIFA World Cup final tournament. Despite maintaining over 70% ball possession, Spain struggled to break down the Cape Verdean defense. Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha made several critical saves throughout the match, including a key double save in the 39th minute against Ferran Torres and Mikel Oyarzabal. The Spanish side, managed by Luis de la Fuente, left players like Lamine Yamal on the bench for the starting lineup. The match was the first-ever competitive meeting between the two nations. Other teams in Group H include Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Despite significant offensive pressure from the Spanish squad, they failed to find a winning goal against the well-organized Cape Verde team.