World Cup 2026 Shock: Cape Verde Hold Spain to 0-0 Draw in Monterrey Debut

Cape Verde stun Spain

Spain were stunned 0-0 by World Cup debutants Cape Verde in Monterrey. Ferran Torres struck the crossbar and Vozinha denied Merino as De la Fuente’s side won just 1 of their last 7 finals games.

Spain held 0-0 by World Cup newcomers Cape Verde as group H blown open...

Cape Verde kicked off their first ever World Cup with a stunning 0-0 draw vs Spain. The result blew Group H wide open. Spain, ranked 2nd in the world before kickoff, have now won just 1 of their last 7 World Cup games. Their tag as pre-tournament favourites looks shaky already.

The game played out as expected early on. Cape Verde sat deep and crowded Spain out, and the heavy favourites couldn’t find any rhythm or clear chances in the opening stages.

Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes, with 351 games for Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland, cleared one of Spain’s better crosses into the box. The 2010 World Cup winners looked short on ideas all over the pitch.

Dailon Livramento even tried his luck from halfway as the half went on. Spain did come close just before the break though.

Ferran Torres somehow hit the crossbar from point-blank range after Marc Cucurella flicked the ball back across goal. Mikel Oyarzabal followed up but 40-year-old Vozinha made a sharp save to keep it 0-0 at halftime.

The second half picked up where the first left off. You could feel Spain getting nervy. Ferran Torres even sliced a cross that nearly looped over Vozinha, forcing the 40-year-old keeper to scramble back.

For long stretches it looked like only a lucky break would split the teams. Cape Verde stayed compact and organised at the back, and Spain rarely looked like breaking them down.

Desperate for a goal, De la Fuente brought on Lamine Yamal. The teenager was a doubt before kickoff but he added pace and urgency the second he stepped on.

Yamal made an instant impact down the right and teed up fellow sub Mikel Merino. Merino had a good chance but Vozinha saved again. That was his 7th save of the night, and he earned every one.

Oyarzabal had Spain’s best chance late on, but Lopes threw himself in front of it. That block sealed a massive point for the island nation on their World Cup debut.

Cape Verde almost snatched all three in stoppage time. Diney Borges powered a header from a corner but Unai Simon kept it out and spared Spain total embarrassment.

Up next in Group H is Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia. Both will now feel the group is wide open after Spain’s stumble.

One thing’s clear: nobody’s underestimating Cape Verde now. This historic draw backs up a qualifying run of 6 wins and 1 draw from their last 7 games.