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World Cup 2026 Roundup: Cape Verde Stun Spain, Scotland End 36-Year Drought
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially in full swing across North America, and the first five days have already delivered drama, upsets, and unforgettable moments. With 14 matches played and 40 goals scored across 16 host cities, the expanded 48-team tournament is living up to the hype. Here’s your complete roundup of the biggest storylines from June 15.
Cape Verde 0-0 Spain — The Shock of the Tournament
The result that has the football world buzzing: World Cup debutants Cape Verde held European champions Spain to a goalless draw in Atlanta.
The hero of the day was 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha (Josimar Dias), who made seven saves — the most by a goalkeeper over 40 in a World Cup match since Pat Jennings in 1986. His performance sent him viral, with his Instagram following exploding from 50,000 to over 1.5 million.
“Everyone thought that we came here just to enjoy the World Cup, but no, we are here to compete, and we are here to fight for our country,” Vozinha said after being named Player of the Match.
Cape Verde, an archipelago nation of just over 500,000 people off the west coast of Africa, celebrated deep into the night in the capital Praia.
Scotland 1-0 Haiti — First World Cup Win in 36 Years
Scotland finally broke their World Cup curse, securing their first win at a finals tournament since 1990. John McGinn scored a scruffy, double-deflected goal at the New England Patriots stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as more than 50,000 fans belted out “Flower of Scotland” before kickoff.
Head coach Steve Clarke was reportedly “doing cartwheels at breakfast” the next morning, according to assistant Steven Naismith — a sign of the relaxed culture shift in the Scotland camp.
Belgium 1-1 Egypt — Salah’s Birthday Spoiled
Egypt came agonizingly close to a historic first World Cup victory but had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Belgium.
Captain Mohamed Salah, playing on his 34th birthday, had a header well saved by Thibaut Courtois. Egypt took the lead but couldn’t hold on as Romelu Lukaku — making his return from a hamstring injury that limited him to just 40 Serie A minutes all season — was introduced in the 66th minute. His presence immediately led to an own goal from Mohamed Hany that leveled the score.
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay — Saudi Lead 1-0 at HT
In the late match at Miami Stadium, Saudi Arabia lead Uruguay 1-0 at the break thanks to a goal from Abdulelah Al Amri in the 41st minute. The goal came from a corner — Hassan Al Tambakti’s bullet header was spilled by Fernando Muslera, and Al Amri bundled home the rebound. It’s the first time Saudi Arabia have scored the opening goal in a World Cup match since their famous 1-0 win over Belgium in 1994.
The match has entered “Severe Weather Mode” with lightning activity approaching the stadium, meaning a potential interruption looms.
Key Results So Far
| Match | Score | Group | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico vs South Africa | 2-1 | A | Quinones scored first goal of tournament (9′) |
| Cape Verde vs Spain | 0-0 | — | Vozinha (40yo) made 7 saves |
| Scotland vs Haiti | 1-0 | — | First Scotland WC win since 1990 |
| Belgium vs Egypt | 1-1 | G | Salah birthday, Lukaku impact sub |
| Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay | 1-0* | H | HT — storm threat in Miami |
Tournament stats: 14 matches | 40 goals (2.86 avg) | 895,557 total attendance | Top scorers: Kai Havertz (GER), Yasin Ayari (SWE), Folarin Balogun (USA) — 2 goals each
Upcoming Matches
| Date | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 16 | England vs Iran | I | Houston |
| June 16 | Argentina vs Senegal | D | New York/New Jersey |
| June 16 | Canada vs Uzbekistan | G | Toronto |
| June 17 | Brazil vs Morocco | — | Los Angeles |
| June 17 | France vs Japan | — | Philadelphia |
| June 17 | Netherlands vs Ghana | — | Kansas City |
Must-watch: Defending champions Argentina kick off their campaign against Senegal, and hosts Canada make their home World Cup debut vs Uzbekistan in Toronto.
FAQ
Where is the 2026 World Cup being held?
The tournament is co-hosted by 16 cities across the United States (11), Mexico (3), and Canada (2) — the first World Cup hosted by three nations.
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?
48 teams — expanded from 32 — split into 12 groups of 4. The top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance to a new Round of 32.
When did the tournament start and end?
Started June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The final is July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Which teams are making their World Cup debut?
Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan are all playing in their first-ever World Cup.
Where can I watch matches in the US?
Matches are broadcast on Fox Sports (English) and Telemundo/Universo (Spanish), with streaming on Fubo, Sling, and Peacock.
Final Thoughts
The first week of the 2026 World Cup has already delivered what makes this tournament special: underdogs rising, records breaking, and moments that transcend sport. Cape Verde’s Vozinha crying after holding Spain scoreless. Scotland fans celebrating after 36 years. A 40-year-old goalkeeper becoming a global icon overnight.
If this is just the beginning, the next month is going to be absolutely unforgettable.
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