Argentina defeats Cape Verde in World Cup round of 16

Argentina secured a 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in overtime to advance to the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match took place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, marking his 7th goal of the tournament. While Argentina maintained high possession and control throughout the first half, Cape Verde demonstrated strong defensive play under goalkeeper Vozinha. The match remained competitive as Cape Verde pushed for an equalizer in the second half. Following the full-time period, the game proceeded into overtime where Argentina finalized the 3-2 result. This victory maintains Argentina's progression after an undefeated group stage performance.