Cape Verde has scripted one of football's most remarkable stories by reaching the World Cup Round of 32. The Atlantic island nation, making its tournament debut, advanced unbeaten from Group H to set up a knockout clash with defending champions Argentina.
A 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia in Houston secured Cape Verde's spot as Group H runners-up with three points. They will now face Argentina in Miami on July 4 at 4:00 AM (Bangladesh Time).
Argentina cannot afford to take the debutants lightly. The nation of just 550,000 people frustrated two former world champions in the group stage, earning a goalless draw against Spain and holding Uruguay to a 2-2 draw.
Meanwhile, Spain clinched the top spot in Group H with a 1-0 victory over Uruguay in Guadalajara. Attacking midfielder Álex Baena scored the decisive goal in the 42nd minute, aided by a handling error from Uruguay's 40-year-old goalkeeper, Fernando Muslera, who failed to block the shot despite a diving effort. Uruguay's head coach Marcelo Bielsa substituted Muslera at halftime.
Spain dominated the match, with a shot hitting the post in the 87th minute. Uruguay's frustrations culminated in an 89th-minute red card for midfielder Agustín Canobbio.
As Group H winners, Spain will face the Group J runners-up—either Austria or Algeria—in Los Angeles on July 2 at 1:00 AM (Bangladesh Time).
Uruguay's defeat marks their second consecutive group-stage exit at the World Cup, finishing third in the group with just two points. Saudi Arabia, matching Uruguay’s point tally but finishing at the bottom of Group H, also exited the tournament.
