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# World Cup 2026 Roundup: Cape Verde Makes History, Belgium Dominates, Uruguay Crashes Out
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up as group stage matches wrap up across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Here’s your latest roundup of all the key action.
## đ¨đť Cape Verde’s Fairytale Continues
The Blue Sharks have done the unthinkable. Ranked 67th in the world, Cape Verde held Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw and advanced to the knockout stage â becoming the first African debutants to escape their group since Ghana in 2006.
The tiny island nation of just 525,000 people celebrated wildly as news filtered through that Uruguay had lost to Spain, confirming their place in the last 32. Next up? A date with Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
> *”Honestly, it’s mad. I feel like I’m in a dream… It’s against Argentina, isn’t it? A tough match, but let’s believe. Anything is possible.”* â Cape Verde midfielder Deroy Duarte
## đ§đŞ Belgium 5-1 New Zealand đłđż
After two lackluster performances to start the tournament, Belgium finally clicked. Leandro Trossard scored twice, Kevin De Bruyne added a vintage strike from 20 yards, and Romelu Lukaku scored just 56 seconds after coming off the bench. Alexis Saelemaekers added a fifth in injury time.
Elijah Just scored his third of the tournament for New Zealand, but the All Whites bow out with just one point.
**Key stat:** Belgium tops Group G on goal difference and advances to face a third-placed team in the last 32.
## đŞđ¸ Spain 1-0 Uruguay đşđž â Uruguay Eliminated
Spain secured top spot in Group H with Alex Baena’s 42nd-minute strike, but the story was Uruguay’s collapse. Veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera â making his 137th appearance â was at fault again, his third error leading to a goal in as many games. Coach Marcelo Bielsa substituted him at halftime.
Uruguay’s misery was complete when Agustin Canobbio was sent off in stoppage time. They exit with just two points from three games, their second consecutive group-stage elimination.
## đŞđŹ Egypt 1-1 Iran đŽđˇ
Egypt booked their place in the knockout stage â their first-ever World Cup win in the bag earlier in the tournament â after a tense 1-1 draw with Iran. Mahmoud Saber opened the scoring in the 5th minute, but Ramin Rezaeian smashed home the equalizer.
Iran had a goal disallowed by VAR and hit the crossbar deep into stoppage time. They remain winless but unbeaten (three draws) and could still qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
## Other Key Headlines
| Match | Result | Highlight |
|——-|——–|———–|
| đ§đŞ Belgium vs New Zealand đłđż | **5-1** | Trossard (2), De Bruyne, Lukaku, Saelemaekers |
| đŞđ¸ Spain vs Uruguay đşđž | **1-0** | Baena goal; Muslera error, Bielsa subs him |
| đŞđŹ Egypt vs Iran đŽđˇ | **1-1** | Saber; Rezaeian; Iran denied by VAR |
| đ¨đť Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia đ¸đŚ | **0-0** | Cape Verde advance to last 32! |
| đ§đˇ Brazil vs Scotland đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż | **3-0** | Neymar returns, Scotland hopes at 0.07% |
| đłđ´ Norway vs Senegal đ¸đł | **3-2** | Haaland scores twice |
| đşđ¸ USA vs Turkey đšđˇ | **2-3** | Pochettino: “We finished first” (group) |
| đżđŚ South Africa vs South Korea đ°đˇ | **1-0** | Broos: “We answered the big mouths” |
## Messi Benched for Argentina’s Final Group Match
Lionel Messi, the tournament’s top scorer so far, will start on the bench for Argentina’s final group game against Jordan. Manager Lionel Scaloni confirmed the decision, likely looking to rest the 39-year-old legend ahead of the knockout rounds. Argentina will face Cape Verde in what promises to be a fascinating David vs Goliath clash.
## Looking Ahead
The knockout stage is taking shape. With groups wrapping up, teams are jockeying for favorable positions. Key matches to watch:
– **Argentina vs Cape Verde** â Can the fairytale continue?
– **Group J, K, L final matches** â Iran’s fate hangs in the balance
– **USA’s path** â Though losing to Turkey, the US won their group
## FAQ
**Q: When does the knockout stage start?**
A: The last 32 begins on Wednesday, with matches scheduled across multiple host cities.
**Q: Which teams have been eliminated so far?**
A: Uruguay, New Zealand, and Scotland are among the confirmed eliminations. More will follow as the remaining groups conclude.
**Q: Can Iran still qualify?**
A: Yes. With three draws, Iran can still advance as one of the best third-placed teams depending on results in Groups J, K, and L.
**Q: Is Messi injured?**
A: No. Scaloni confirmed Messi will be rested for the final group match to keep him fresh for the knockout rounds.
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*Stay tuned for more World Cup 2026 coverage. Bookmark this page for daily updates on scores, knockout stage brackets, and analysis.*
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