August 19, 2026 08:25 am (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Supreme Court rejects ‘less painful’ death penalty plea, but leaves door open for future change | ‘Vulgarity and disgust’: DMK attacks Vijay over Trisha salute at I-Day event | ‘Take Gyanesh Kumar to the US’: Congress mocks Trump over praise for India’s voter ID system | Big relief for Imran Khan: Pakistan Supreme Court orders hospital transfer amid health fears | Trump praises India’s voter ID system, pushes SAVE America Act | Trump's shock threat to bomb Oman: US President warns ally over Iran deal and Hormuz crisis | Rishabh Pant scripts history! Indian wicketkeeper-batter joins elite 100-sixes club in Test cricket | BJP reshuffles top organisation seven months after Nitin Nabin's elevation | West Bengal STF arrests suspected aide of ISI 'agent' Rana Rauf in Kolkata | ‘Very hopeful’: Indian envoy Dinesh Trivedi breaks silence on PM Tarique Rahman’s proposed India visit
FIFA
Cape Verde players celebrate after they secure a berth in the knockout stage. Photo: FIFA World Cup/X

Cape Verde script history! African debutants reach FIFA World Cup Round of 32

| @indiablooms | Jun 27, 2026, at 03:55 pm

Cape Verde turned their World Cup dream into reality by advancing to the Round of 32 in their maiden FIFA World Cup campaign on Friday.

The African debutants held Saudi Arabia to a goalless draw in their final Group H match to progress to the knockout stage alongside group winners Spain.

Saudi Arabia entered the contest needing a victory to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive, but they were unable to breach Cape Verde's disciplined defence.

Cape Verde finished the group stage with three points, having drawn all three of their matches.

Although the game ended 0-0, it was a tense affair, with both sides creating chances but failing to find the decisive goal.

The draw proved enough for Cape Verde after Spain edged Uruguay 1-0 in the other Group H fixture, enabling the World Cup debutants to finish as runners-up in the group.

Spain topped Group H with seven points, while Cape Verde sealed second place with three draws.

Cape Verde will now take on defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32 in Miami on July 4, in what promises to be the biggest match in the nation's football history.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.