At the North American 2026 World Cup group stage, heavy favorites Spain rained 27 shots on tournament debutants Cape Verde yet could not score, settling for a 0-0 draw. An island nation of half a million pulled off an upset for the ages.
European champions Spain became the victim of an upset that will live long in World Cup history. In their Group H match in Atlanta, the United States, Spain failed to break down debutants Cape Verde and were held to a 0-0 draw. Outlets across Korea and Taiwan, including Chosun Ilbo, Kyunghyang Shinmun, United Daily News and Liberty Times, all gave the result prominent coverage.
광고 문의 · 300×250The run of play was utterly lopsided. Spain attempted a remarkable 27 shots, seven of them on target, but Cape Verde's goal would not open. Cape Verde, by contrast, managed just six shots. Spain dominated both possession and chances, yet the scoreboard never budged.
The chief architect of the upset was 40-year-old veteran goalkeeper Vozinha. He produced a string of saves late in the first half to deny Oyarzabal, Laporte and Torres, while even Spain's best chance, a Torres effort that struck the crossbar, came to nothing with a dose of luck. A resolute defense had an answer for every attack Spain's stars threw at it.
Cape Verde, an island nation of about half a million, is the third-smallest country ever to reach the finals, doing so for the first time this year. In the rest of the group they face Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in turn. The precious point earned on their debut is set to be remembered as a portrait of football's appeal, grit and organization papering over a gulf in raw quality.
For Spain, the failure to crown Lamine Yamal's World Cup debut with a win stings. Despite their overwhelming display, they leave with the unsolved problem of a lack of finishing, and though this was no 'group of death,' a side tripped up at the very first step now carries a heavier burden through the rest of the schedule.