SpainvsCabo Verde

Result

The shock of the tournament so far: World Cup debutants Cabo Verde held the European champions to a goalless draw in Atlanta. Spain laid siege — 74% possession, 27 shots, 11 corners — but ran into a wall in 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, who made eight saves to deny Oyarzabal, Laporte and Ferran Torres in turn. Bubista's side defended in numbers and never buckled, claiming a historic first World Cup point for a nation of barely half a million.

Spain 4-3-34-3-3 Cabo Verde

Spain

Cabo Verde

74%Possession26%

27Shots6

7On target1

1Saves7

11Corners1

734Passes completed205

92%Pass accuracy74%

13Tackles18

51Touches in box6

At this Stage

One round into Group H and the table is a monument to level terms: four teams on a point apiece, separated only by goals scored — which is how the reigning European champions find themselves bottom of their World Cup group. Cabo Verde's goalless stand in Atlanta did that: Vozinha, 40 years old, made eight saves while Spain piled up 74% possession, 27 shots and 11 corners, and a nation of barely half a million banked a historic first World Cup point. Saudi Arabia and Uruguay's 1-1 in Miami tops the standings on the strength of the two goals it contained. None of this is damage yet, only delay — but Atlanta taught Spain the group's early thesis: at this tournament, a blockade with a hot goalkeeper outranks a siege.

Group H

Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
Saudi Arabia	1	0	1	0	+0	1
Uruguay	1	0	1	0	+0	1
Cabo Verde	1	0	1	0	+0	1
Spain	1	0	1	0	+0	1

Top two (above the accent line) advance to the round of 32; the third-placed team is in the race for one of the eight best-third spots.

What we know now

What I said beforehand

The preview, frozen at kickoff. Clearly dated, never rewritten — that's the deal that makes the predictions worth anything.

Spain by a comfortable margin. Reigning European champions and one of the tournament favourites, La Roja arrive unbeaten in 10 and beat Peru 3-1 in their final warm-up; even if De la Fuente rests Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams while they manage hamstrings, the midfield of Rodri, Pedri and Fabián controls any game at this level. Cabo Verde are tournament debutants on a high — three straight wins, including 3-0 over Serbia — and will defend deep and savour the occasion, but the quality gap is a chasm. Spain to pull clear after the break, 3-0.

Both cases written 2026-06-14, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 11% belongs to the draw.