FIFA World Cup 2026: Underdog Cape Verde’s fairytale continues as they qualify for Round of 32

Some World Cups are built around individual moments and stories. There are editions where national sides become unstoppable machines on their way to ultimate glory. But an underdog story? Everyone loves one.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has been a Cape Verde party from the time that the African minnows took on the might of Spain in their tournament opener. On Friday, they took a step into the unknown after their goalless draw against Saudi Arabia ensured a 2^nd place finish for the smallest nation at this year’s tournament.

Their reward for making the knockouts? A date with defending champions Argentina. A beautiful story is brewing and the ever-so likeable Blue Sharks are at the centre of it.

At full time, their players huddled around a phone watching Spain’s 1-0 win over Uruguay which confirmed their progression to the knockouts on their World Cup debut.

The truth is that their rise is anything but an overnight fairytale. This was the culmination of a carefully curated strategy of reaching out to players from the country’s diaspora.

Coach Bubista, who took charge in 2020, has built a team based on defensive solidity, aided by tireless midfielders and forwards who are ever ready to contribute to the cause. This has led to them keeping two clean sheets in their group, including the one against Spain, aided by seven fantastic saves by their 40-year-old keeper Vozhinha.

Their first roller coaster came about in their run to the final 16 at the 2021 AFCON. Several squad members have retained their places since that tournament including Dublin-born Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes, recruited after an official from the national federation reached out to him on LinkedIn.

After upsetting Ghana at the 2023 AFCON, they overcame continental giants Nigeria and Cameroon to seal a first-ever qualification to the World Cup. Their draw against Saudi Arabia meant that they became only the second-ever team to qualify for the knockout stages after drawing their three group stage matches. Italy, who did it in 1982, went on to win the tournament.

When they do take on Argentina on July 3 in Miami, there will be endless belief coursing through those veins. The Blue Sharks have already written most of their story, gone beyond anything they may ever have imagined and have already cemented their status as one of the World Cup’s greatest-ever underdog stories.

Lionel Messi vs Vozhinha? We’re all here for it.

EGYPT-IRAN ends in drama

Group G almost ended in Egyptian heartbreak as Iran thought they had nicked a late winner to condemn Mo’ Salah and the Pharoahs to a third place finish in the group. 

Shoja Khalilzadeh had rifled the ball into the ball of the net in the 93^rd minute but VAR ruled the goal out for offside, meaning that team Melli finished third with Egypt confirmed as one of the two automatic qualifiers from Group G.

Mahmoud Saber had given Egypt the lead within five minutes but Ramin Rezaeian equalised in the 14^th. Mehdi Taremi had a penalty saved in the first half and even hit the crossbar in the second, but the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Elsewhere, Belgium put their early tournament woes behind them with a 5-1 shellacking of New Zealand to finish as group winners. Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard bagged a brace while Kevin De Bruyne, Alexis Saelemaekers and Romelu Lukaku also got on the scoresheet.

England have also qualified courtesy of Friday’s results as Thomas Tuchel’s men can not finish outside the top 8 third-placed teams, irrespective of their result against Panama.

With 28 teams already having secured their knockout spots, the round of 32 promises to throw up some interesting clashes. Five-times champions Brazil will take on the Asian powerhouses Japan in Houston, while three-time finalists Netherlands face off against 2022 semi-finalists Morocco in Guadalupe.

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