It’s always impressive when you see a player go an entire game without an incomplete pass attempt, but that’s not something a center back will necessarily strive to achieve.

No center back is going to go out there with the idea of, “I want to improve my completion percentage.” That’s not the job of a defender over 90 minutes.

A center back’s primary focus entering a game is, obviously, the defensive responsibilities. On the ball, you’re looking to make plays on the ball that are creating attacks. You’re also trying to be reliable and consistent so you can say at the end of the match, “I had a positive impact.”

There’s definitely a fine balance between picking your moments and determining when you have an 80% chance of squeezing a pass through and creating a potential opportunity going forward.

Chris Richards’ 83-for-83 passing mark was an opportunity provided to him by Paraguay in the teams’ 2026 World Cup opener.

Chris’ defensive partner, Tim Ream, was 84-of-90 with his passing and had the most touches of any player on the pitch with 102. To put that number into perspective, the player with the most passes attempted in the USA midfield was Tyler Adams, who was 52-of-59.

The USA’s opponent last Friday night wasn’t pressing very high up the field and was content to sit in a low block and defend.

The U.S. was able to play the ball around its back line, feeding Alex Freeman on the right side of defense or Antonee Robinson a little further up the field on the left. A big key for us for creating numerical mismatches in wide positions, and it’s easier for the center backs to find guys in those positions than it is further up the field.

Paraguay was always going to sit back and allow the USA to have the ball in spots on the field that aren’t immediately dangerous. It was the kind of game that definitely catered to Chris and Tim being able to keep a lot of possession.

The last thing on your mind in a game like that is, “Oh, what am I going to do with the ball?” That’s because you’re always in control. 

What did surprise me is that Paraguay did not step up the pressure after the second USA goal, which was Flo Balogun’s first of the game. At that point, I expected more of a sense of urgency from Paraguay, but it remained content to sit back and defend – and paid for that mentality.

It shows how reliable Richards is. His return was a boost to the American backline, and it’s clear how comfortable he is next to Ream.

Chris is also playing different kinds of passes compared to Tim. The USA captain played a more progressive game because Robinson was further up the field on his side compared to Freeman on the right side next to Richards.

Chris Richards (left) thrived next to Tim Ream in defense for the USA against Paraguay. (Omar Vega/Getty Images)

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Expect a different kind of game for the USA backline on Friday against Australia.

While Australia will also be content to defend, the difference between the Socceroos and Paraguay is that they can hurt you even more in transition. Australia has more speed going forward. We saw winger Nestroy Irankunda put his speed and dribbling on display with his goal against Türkiye on Saturday night, which gave the Aussies a 1-0 lead. If he gets more people in one-on-one situations in the rest of the tournament, there will be more of that.

Australia will play with five defenders and three in midfield who will sit pretty deep. A lot of the time when we have the ball, there will be eight or nine players behind the ball.

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After Spain’s surprising 0-0 draw with Cape Verde earlier today, Group H just got a lot more exciting as Uruguay and Saudi Arabia take the field today. Join the excitement with BetMGM, as new users can claim up to $1,500 in bonus bets when they use promo code ‘FOXSPORTS’.

Uruguay enters as the favorite in the match, led by Darwin Núñez and Manuel Ugarte. Saudi Arabia’s captain Salem Al-Dawsari leads a squad eager to pull off another World Cup shock and throw Group H into even more chaos.

Claim up to $1,500 in bonus bets with the BetMGM bonus code ‘FOXSPORTS’ or bet $10 and get $200 in some select states. This between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia just became that much more exciting.

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Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay

• Uruguay: -235
• Tie: +333
• Saudi Arabia: +675

Who Scores In Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia?

Player	First	Anytime	Last
Darwin Núñez (URG)	+300	+110	+300
Rodrigo Aguirre (URG)	+400	+155	+400
Fedrico Vinas (URG)	+450	+260	+450
Salem Al Dawsari (SAU)	+900	+450	+950
Saleh Al-Shehri (SAU)	+900	+400	+950

How to Watch Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay

• When: Monday, June 15, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. ET
• Where: Miami Stadium, Miami, FL
• TV: FS1
• Stream: Watch 3 days for free on FOX One, FOX Sports, FOX Sports App

Players to Watch for Saudi Arabia

Salem Al-Dawsari is Saudi Arabia’s most experienced attacking player, starring for Al-Hilal for over a decade while winning multiple Asian Football Confederation Champions League titles and scoring the famous winner against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.

Musab Al-Juwayr provides a youthful midfield presence with Saudi Pro League experience and a strong track record in the country’s youth national teams.

Saud Abdulhamid brings reliability at fullback, backed by consistent performances in the Saudi Pro League and appearances in recent international competitions.

Players to Watch for Uruguay

Federico Valverde is one of Uruguay’s key midfielders, earning 71 caps since 2017. A veteran of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, he has won multiple UEFA Champions League titles and La Liga championships while providing goals, assists, and defensive work in midfield.

José María Giménez is Uruguay’s defensive leader with 97 international caps. He has represented the country at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups and has enjoyed a decorated club career that includes La Liga, UEFA Super Cup, and Europa League titles.

Ronald Araújo has become a mainstay in Uruguay’s back line since debuting in 2020. The 2022 World Cup participant has earned 25 caps and won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey with Barcelona while establishing himself as one of the club’s top center backs.

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Who could have seen that coming?

Spain, the betting co-favorite to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, opened its tournament with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde, which made its World Cup debut on Monday at Atlanta Stadium. Going into the match, Spain had -1500 odds to beat Cape Verde.

There have been stunning upsets in World Cup history, but where does Cape Verde’s result against Spain rank all-time? Here are the most shocking results — win, loss or draw — in World Cup history based on FIFA ranking, which was introduced in 1992.

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5. Spain 1, Russia 1 (2018)

Russia striker Artem Dzyuba celebrates his goal against Spain in 2018. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

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Russia FIFA Rank: 70
Spain FIFA Rank: 10
Difference: 60 spots

The best moment in Russia’s World Cup history. Against a stacked Spain side that was on a 23-match unbeaten streak entering the Round of 16, the host nation knocked Spain out of the 2018 World Cup through a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.

Spain took the lead in the 12th minute off an own goal from Sergei Ignashevich, but Artem Dzyuba brought Russia level after converting his penalty kick just before the halftime break. With both sides unable to separate themselves from each other in regulation and extra time, it went to penalties, where Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev became a national hero, famously saving penalties from Koke and Iago Aspas to send his country to the quarterfinals.

4. Cape Verde 0, Spain 0 (2026)

Cape Verde celebrates its impressive defensive performance against Spain. (Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)

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Cape Verde FIFA Rank: 67
Spain FIFA Rank: 2
Difference: 65 spots

What a way to make your tournament debut. Cape Verde, the second-smallest country in the tournament by population size (529,000), held Euro 2024 champions Spain to a scoreless draw in its first-ever World Cup match at Atlanta stadium.

Spain dominated possession in the first half with 70% to Cape Verde’s 30% but was unable to score. In an effort to break the deadlock, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente subbed on Lamine Yamal, but even the teenage superstar was unable to break the tie. Instead, the Man of the Match honors went to Cape Verde’s 40-year-old veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, who stopped all seven of Spain’s shots on target.

Spain vs Cape Verde Highlights | 2026 FIFA World Cup™

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3. South Africa 1, Mexico 1 (2010)

Siphiwe Tshabalala celebrates his memorable goal from the 2010 World Cup against Mexico. (Jamie Squire – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

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South Africa FIFA Rank: 83
Mexico FIFA Rank: 17
Difference: 66 spots

South Africa marked the opening match of the first-ever World Cup on African soil with an unforgettable 1-1 draw against Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

Mexico dominated the first half and sent the host nation into the halftime break with a lot to figure out, and South Africa responded almost immediately with an absolute rocket of a goal from Siphiwe Tshabalala in the 55th minute. Mexico would still manage to play spoiler in the 79th minute, when an unmarked Rafael Márquez equalized for El Tri, but for South Africa, it was close to a dream start in a tough Group A with Mexico, France and Uruguay.

2. Italy 1, New Zealand 1 (2010)

New Zealand celebrates its goal against Italy from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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New Zealand FIFA Rank: 78
Italy FIFA Rank: 5
Difference: 73 spots

This match between the defending world champions and a group of mostly semi-professional players didn’t go the way many people predicted, and certainly not the way Italy had hoped.

Italy, which lifted the World Cup trophy in 2006, needed a win against New Zealand to put itself in a comfortable position to advance after a shock 1-1 draw against Paraguay in its group stage opener, and it had every reason to believe it would get one against a New Zealand side that failed to stack up on paper. Instead, Italy was humiliated, conceding in the 7th minute of the match and failing to mount a comeback despite an aggressive attacking strategy from head coach Marco Lippi.

New Zealand would be eliminated from the tournament after managing just three points in two matches, but so too would Italy, and with the added shock value of finishing last in the group with two points. For the All Whites, history. For the Azzurri, a low point that they’ve been unable to rebound from since.

1. South Africa 2, France 1 (2010)

France was in crisis back in 2010(Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

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South Africa FIFA Rank: 83
France FIFA Rank: 9
Difference: 74 spots

France’s nightmarish run at the 2010 World Cup hit rock bottom when tournament hosts South Africa pulled off arguably the greatest upset in World Cup history at Vodafone Park.

Arriving at its final group game amidst an internal mutiny against its manager, Raymond Domenech, Les Bleus finally imploded, allowing South Africa to take a 2-0 lead in the first half through Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela and going down 10 men due to a straight red card that was shown to Yoann Gourcuff.

Though Florent Malouda pulled one back for France in the second half, Bafana Bafana held on for a historic victory, and France’s tumultuous 2006 World Cup was put to a merciful end.

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U.S. World Cup Team Training Base (IRVINE, Calif.) — Although U.S. men’s national team forward Christian Pulisic participated in a “modified training” session on Monday after leaving last week’s 2026 FIFA World Cup-opening win over Paraguay with a sore calf, midfielder Tyler Adams insisted that Pulisic “will be ready” for the Americans’ second Group B match against Australia on Friday in Seattle. 

After setting up the USA’s first two goals en route to a record-smashing 4-1 victory over the Paraguayans, Pulisic — the Stars and Stripes’ headliner and their most irreplaceable attacking player — was subbed out of the match at halftime with a sore left calf.

“We’re hopeful the next game he’ll be available,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said on Friday after the game.

Adams expects that he will. 

“Come on, Christian will be ready,” Adams said with a chuckle before the Americans trained as a group for the first time since last Friday’s triumph. “Everyone, let’s relax.”

Despite Pochettino’s revelation that Pulisic “could not walk when he finished the first half,” the 27-year-old AC Milan star wasn’t noticeably limping when he strode to a microphone to answer questions about 30 minutes following the final whistle.

The players who started against Paraguay, including Pulisic, went through a light “regeneration session” on Saturday before a team barbecue at the team’s swanky ocean-front hotel. Pulisic’s leg wasn’t taped in pictures of that event posted to social media. 

Yet when training began on Monday, Pulisic wasn’t on the field with the rest of the other 25 members of the USA’s squad. He was in the gym working out instead and did  individual work on the field later in the session here at Great Park. 

Pochettino told FOX Sports sideline reporter Jenny Taft that the Pennsylvania native was removed as a precaution from the opener, which the World Cup co-hosts were leading 3-0 at the time. The former Paris Saint-Germain manager gave his players Sunday off, allowing them to rest mentally as well as physically.

“He picked up a knock a few days before the game, and I think he got kicked in the same spot again during the game,” Adams said of Pulisic on Monday. “And when you go into halftime, things obviously get tight within the 15-20 minute break.

“He’ll be fine.”

United States vs Paraguay Extended Highlights | 2026 FIFA World Cup™

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“Bear Bets” are real wagers that Chris “The Bear” Fallica is actually making.

Who could’ve predicted Cape Verde forcing the draw with Spain in its World Cup debut? 

Matches like those are why we love (and wager on) the game.

Match Day 6 — let’s go!

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World Cup Best Bets — Tuesday, June 16

France vs. Senegal 

Kylian Mbappé of France has had a drama-filled year (Getty Images).

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Which XI will Didier Deschamps go with? He’s got a ton of options, and I’m not sure the best option features Kylian Mbappé, who has had a drama-filled year both at the club and international level. Will Rayan Cherki feature? Hint: He should. There’s a lot of pressure on France here, as there are quite a few Senegalese with French ties. We saw Spain come out slowly on Monday, and I’m thinking France could suffer a similar fate Tuesday. 

Fallica’s Pick:   1st Half Draw (+140)

Iraq vs. Norway

Martin Ødegaard of Norway will try to lead his team to a decisive victory over Iraq (Getty Images).

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I can’t see Iraq doing much here, even with a questionable Norway defense, which will likely be tested against France and Senegal. This will ultimately be a practice game for Norway — a lot of shots, with a couple finding the net. 

Fallica’s Picks:   Norway Win to Nil (-140), Norway 2-0 Exact Score (+475), Norway Over 17.5 Shots (-155)

Argentina vs. Algeria 

Lionel Messi & Co. have the tenure necessary to get past Algeria easily (Getty Images).

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I don’t know how Algeria scores here. Argentina might be getting a tad long in the tooth, but that team is rock solid in the back and midfield, and that should mean few chances for Algeria, which has been a great story thus far in its home base of Lawrence, KS, endearing itself to everyone. 

Fallica’s Picks:   Under 2.5 Goals Scored (-120), Both Teams to Score — No (-165), Algeria Under 2.5 Corners (+125)

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So much for a supersized World Cup diluting the quality of soccer’s biggest tournament.

Tiny Cape Verde, making its debut at the World Cup, pulled off a stunning upset to shut out heavily favored Spain in a 0-0 draw on Monday.

“This means everything for our country,” said Cape Verde coach Pedro Leitão Brito. “We have always said that we wanted everybody to see our country, our team, and we have shown organization and braveness and this is proof of what our country is about — resilience and to try to overcome hardships.”

European champion Spain is one of the favorites to win the tournament and was -1200 to beat Cape Verde in its opening game. But they could not find a way past a 40-year-old goalkeeper and a stubborn defense that had an answer to everything Spain’s superstars threw at them.

Not even sensational teenager Lamine Yamal, who came in off the bench in the second half, could turn a game that ended with wild and emotional celebrations inside the stadium.

“A dream” was how Cape Verde defender Steven Moreira described it.

Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha broke down in tears after the final whistle following his impressive performance to keep Spain at bay.

He was the player of the match, pulling off a string of saves at the end of the first half to deny Ferran Torres, Pedri and Aymeric Laporte.

The closest Spain came to finding a breakthrough was when Torres struck the bar shortly before halftime.

“We should have won today’s match with everything that happened, with all the favorable situations we created, but we lacked freshness and a clinical edge,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, who had warned before the match that Cape Verde could be one of the surprise teams of the World Cup.

Spain could have been the victim of an even bigger upset when Diney Borges had a late chance to win the game, but saw his header saved by Spain keeper Unai Simon.

Add Cape Verde to Cameroon, Senegal and Saudi Arabia on the list of teams that have pulled off shocking results against soccer’s giants in the World Cup.

Cameroon beat defending champion Argentina in 1990 and Senegal beat defending champion France in 2002. Four years ago, Saudi Arabia triumphed against Lionel Messi’s Argentina, which eventually went on to win the tournament in Qatar.

Cape Verde didn’t win, but its performance rebuked some of the criticisms that the expansion of the World Cup from 32 teams to 48 would weaken the tournament.

The group of islands have about 4,000 square meters (about 2.5 miles) of landmass and approximately half a million inhabitants, making Cape Verde the third-smallest nation by population to qualify for the World Cup. And even against a Spain team that is filled with superstar players, Cape Verde proved its worth on soccer’s biggest stage.

Despite the majority of the 67,640 crowd inside Atlanta Stadium appearing to be Spain fans, it was the Cape Verde supporters that cheered loudest. They continued their celebrations after the final whistle, singing and dancing in the concourse.

“All of us, we are happy because we work a lot to be here. We deserve to be here,” said Vozinha.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha denied eight shots on goal by Spain. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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The 2010 champion Spain is aiming to win the World Cup for a second time and is coming into the tournament after winning the Euros in 2024. But a disappointing start echoes its performances in recent World Cups when it has failed to advance beyond the Round of 16 in each of the last three editions.

“What doubts do you think my team is going to have? Zero doubts,” said De la Fuente. “We know how difficult this competition is. The idea we need to follow is what took us here and what made us European champions.”

Spain plays Saudi Arabia on Sunday and Cape Verde faces Uruguay.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Cape Verde delivered the biggest shock of the World Cup thus far after its draw against Spain in Atlanta on Monday. I’ve given my kudos to Cape Verde (an archipelago nation off the coast of Africa making its tournament debut), but now let’s focus on La Roja and what’s now at stake after this historically disappointing result from Luis de la Fuente’s team. 

Spain came out sputtering. (Photo by Maddie Meyer – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

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Spain’s draw now means that in order to top the group, its margin for error has practically been brought to zero. This group features two other stout squads – Uruguay will take on Saudi Arabia to conclude the first matchday of Group H – but trust me when I tell you that De La Fuente will want nothing less than two victories for their remaining fixtures in the group stage. 

Spain knows that topping the group is extremely important in order to avoid a major, giant obstacle in the knockout stages and Monday’s result gets in the way of this objective. Because any other setbacks could set up an earlier-than-expected date with a very familiar face. 

If Spain doesn’t finish first in its group, it could set up an early clash against Lionel Messi and Argentina. (Photo by Facundo Morales/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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If Spain ends up as runner-up, then it has the possibility of facing Lionel Messi Argentina in the Round of 32 (if La Albiceleste tops Group J) and that’s far from ideal. Now, there’s a reminder here that Argentina itself lost the opening match of the World Cup back in 2022, which was coincidentally against Saudi Arabia (Spain’s upcoming opponent, and we all know how that ended.) In addition, back in 2010, when Spain won its first World Cup, it actually lost the first match, a 1-0 loss to Switzerland, and after that, it won every game, which concluded the journey with the trophy.

Lamine Yamal’s World Cup debut was dampened by the stalemate vs. Cape Verde. (Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

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All is not lost, therefore. But Spain knows it has to do better, both in strategy and mentality. It was a passive performance where patience was confused with stagnation. Too many players, from Ferran Torres to Mikel Oyarzabal, were not clinical enough. I also thought the substitutions came too late against Cape Verde so De La Fuente too needs to be more aggressive with his management. If all the eggs are placed in Lamine Yamal’s basket, then Spain will continue to fail. It has to believe in the collective. 

As mentioned, Spain faces Saudi Arabia on Sunday, before ending the group action against Uruguay next Friday. And I am not sure if a desperate battle against a team managed by Marcelo Bielsa – whose well-earned El Loco nickname comes from his high-pressure style of tactics – is what Spain wants. There’s a lot to do for Spain and there is no doubt it can do it. It is, after all, a magnificent team. 

But talent is not the question here. This is about application. 

Spain vs Cape Verde Extended Highlights | 2026 FIFA World Cup™

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Brazil are facing the prospect of navigating the entire World Cup group stage without Neymar as the medical staff prioritizes his long-term fitness. The Seleção talisman is battling to recover from a significant muscle injury, with coaching staff now focusing on a return for the knockout rounds.

Caution Remains The Priority For Seleção

Brazil’s medical department and coaching staff have reached a consensus regarding Neymar’s involvement in the opening phase of the World Cup: caution is the only way forward.

Despite the clamour for the superstar to return to the starting line-up, there is currently no indication that he will be risked in the upcoming clash against Haiti in Philadelphia.

As per ESPN, Brazil are determined to avoid a setback that could end his tournament prematurely. Neymar has not trained under Carlo Ancelotti since arriving at Granja Comary on May 27, and the order from the backroom staff is to ensure he does not suffer a regression by returning to intensive drills too soon.

Recovery Timeline For Calf Injury

Neymar is currently working his way back from a grade-two calf problem which he sustained while playing for Santos on May 17. While he increased his workload in the gym recently – a positive sign of evolution in his recovery – he remains far from match fitness and has yet to reintegrate with his team-mates on the grass.

The plan is for the 32-year-old to step onto the pitch this week for individual work, but he will only be cleared for full team sessions once the medical staff are certain he is pain-free.

Given that he has not played a competitive match in over a month, his lack of rhythm is a major factor in the decision-making process.

Plans For The Knockout Stages

Internally, Brazil are now working towards a schedule that would see Neymar fit for the World Cup knockout stages. This strategy effectively rules him out of the clash against Haiti and makes him a major doubt for the final group match against Scotland in Miami on June 24.

This conservative approach will only be maintained if the Seleção results allow for such luxury on the pitch.

Ancelotti is keen to have his best player available but refuses to compromise the player’s health. The Italian recently explained his decision to keep the injured star in the squad, stating: “Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible. When we called up Neymar, we did it not just because of his technical quality, which is undeniable. But also because of his experience, the example he could represent for the younger players on the team.”

A Final Assessment Looms

The medical team have not ruled out conducting fresh imaging tests in the coming days to verify if the intensive treatment has successfully healed the calf muscle. These results will dictate whether Neymar can accelerate his transition to the field or if he must continue his lonely rehabilitation in the gym.

Ultimately, Brazil are weighing short-term caution against long-term gain. With or without their all-time leading scorer, the Seleção must secure their path to the round of 32, where they hope a fully rested and recovered Neymar will be ready to lead their charge for a sixth world title.

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Belgium’s golden generation might have ended in 2022, but a younger squad opened its World Cup the way it has opened most things lately: with more questions than answers. Egypt — organized, patient, entirely unfazed by the badge it was facing — held one of Europe’s more talented squads to a 1-1 draw in Seattle on Monday.

Emam Ashour put the Pharaohs ahead in the 19th minute. Belgium, which lined up without a recognized striker, spent an hour passing the ball to death without ever threatening to score one. Then Rudi Garcia went for one of the lasting remnants of the past golden generation, and that man shocked audiences with his first touch.

Here are my takeaways from Belgium and Egypt’s opening draw:

1. Belgium Needs a Healthy Lukaku — Desperately

(Photo by Dale MacMillan/Soccrates/Getty Images)

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Belgium started this World Cup match without a striker. 

Garcia deployed Charles De Ketelaere, usually a second striker or attacking midfielder, as a false nine in front of an attacking midfield three built on flair: Jérémy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, Leandro Trossard. It produced some decent football but virtually no penalty-box menace. Egypt’s block sat there and dared Belgium to find a center forward. Belgium couldn’t muster a single shot on target during the entire first half.

Enter Romelu Lukaku. Within seconds, a Youri Tielemans pass sprang Thomas Meunier down the right. Lukaku’s run through the middle was perfectly timed as the low cross was fed right into the path of the veteran striker.

That sequence is Belgium’s entire striker situation in a nutshell. Lukaku is 33. He has played about an hour of competitive football all season after a high-grade thigh tear, surgery and a parade of setbacks at Napoli — a saga ugly enough that he spent half the year rehabbing in Belgium against his club’s wishes. And he is still, comfortably, the most important No. 9 this team has. Belgium’s all-time leading scorer, and it isn’t close.

The question for Garcia was never whether Lukaku belongs. It depends on whether his body allows him to be the player this squad is designed around.

2. The Gap At The Top Keeps Shrinking

(Photo by Sarah Stier – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

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Egypt didn’t park ten men and pray. Hossam Hassan’s side defended with shape, broke with intent and, for long spells, looked like the team with the clearer idea of what it was doing. Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush were deployed to stretch Belgium’s back line all night. This was not a smash-and-grab. 

And it fits the pattern of these opening days. Canada took its first men’s World Cup point off Bosnia. Cape Verde somehow held Spain to a 0-0 draw. Japan produced a highly entertaining 2-2 result against the Netherlands. The teams that were supposed to make up the numbers in a bloated 48-side field have been landing clean punches on the establishment.

Egypt went winless in Russia in 2018. This cycle it conceded two goals in 10 qualifiers. On Monday, it walked off the pitch proudly with a point against the ninth placed side in the FIFA rankings. Pedigree still wins most of these games, but be thankful for the surprises that keep some of these games highly unpredictable.

3. Egypt Is Built To Be A Problem

(Photo by Dale MacMillan/Soccrates/Getty Images)

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Two goals allowed in ten qualifying matches is not a rounding error. It’s an identity.

Hassan has built a side around defensive discipline and two attackers who can punish a single lapse. Salah — who turned 34 on Monday, and is fresh off a quieter final season at Liverpool — is still feared by defenders. Marmoush, now at Manchester City, offers a second runner who threatens in behind the moment a center back steps too high. Ashour’s opener came from exactly the kind of organized, low-risk football this team will live on.

The draw has been kind to the Pharaohs, too. They drew the toughest fixture first and came away with a point. Iran and New Zealand are next, and Egypt will fancy itself in both. Second place in Group G is very much on the table — and a Round-of-32 date that could fall against the United States is the sort of thing that makes a federation dream.

4. What Is The Ceiling For Belgium?

We have been writing this group’s obituary since 2018, and it keeps refusing to die quietly. De Bruyne is 34. Courtois is 34. Lukaku is 33 and held together with tape. The trophy cabinet is empty. Qatar 2022 ended in a group-stage exit and a dressing room reportedly at war with itself. The brief in 2026 was simple: don’t do that again.

A point against a well-drilled Egypt is not that. But in a draw, Garcia’s headline idea — De Bruyne conducting behind a striker-less front three — generated barely any threat. It’s the kind of result that should keep a coach up at night. Talent has never been the issue with Belgium. The coherence has.

Iran comes next in Los Angeles, then New Zealand in Vancouver. Both are winnable. Both are also precisely the sort of stubborn, well-organized opponent that just gave Belgium 90 minutes of frustration while wearing a different shirt. Garcia has a week to decide how much he trusts Lukaku’s body — because for an hour on Monday, the alternative looked like nothing at all.

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So much for a supersized World Cup diluting the quality of soccer’s biggest tournament.

Cape Verde, making its debut at the World Cup, pulled off a stunning upset to shut out heavily favored Spain in a 0-0 draw on Monday.

“This means everything for our country,” Cape Verde coach Pedro Leitão Brito said. “We have always said that we wanted everybody to see our country, our team and we have shown organization and braveness and this is proof of what our country is about — resilience and to try to overcome hardships.”

European champion Spain entered the World Cup as one of the favorites to win the tournament, listed at +450, along with Spain. Now, after the draw, Spain has dropped to +500. 

Not even 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who was the No. 1-ranked player in our Top 100 Players in the FIFA World Cup ranking, could turn a game that ended with wild and emotional celebrations from Cape Verde players and fans inside the stadium.

Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha broke down in tears after the final whistle following his impressive performance to keep Spain at bay.

“Heroic effort from this Cape Verde team,” FOX Sports lead soccer analyst Stu Holden said on the broadcast as members of Cape Verde embraced the 40-year-old Vozinha. “They’ve made themselves proud.”

Here are some numbers to put the stunning 0-0 draw between Spain and Cape Verde into perspective:

• The result marked one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history by FIFA rankings, representing the fourth-largest ranking gap ever in a match where the lower-ranked team avoided defeat.

• Spain entered the World Cup on a 30-game unbeaten streak, while this was Cape Verde’s World Cup debut, making it the third-smallest country ever to qualify in terms of population.

• Cape Verde’s population is 82 times smaller than Spain.

• Spain forward Lamine Yamal has a transfer value of €200M (approximately $232.1M). All 26 players of Cape Verde’s national team have a COMBINED transfer value of €54.4M (approximately $63.1M).

• Yamal and Norway forward Eling Haaland (€200M, approximately $232.1M) have nearly four times the value of Cape Verde’s entire team.

• Spain was ranked second in the FIFA world rankings heading into the matchup, while Cape Verde was ranked 67th. The 65-place difference is the ninth-biggest gap in world rankings in a World Cup matchup.

• Cape Verde is now one of just three debutant nations since 2010 to earn points in its opening match of the World Cup.

The 2010 champion Spain is aiming to win the World Cup for a second time and is coming into the tournament after winning the Euros in 2024. But a disappointing start echoes its performances in recent World Cups when it has failed to advance beyond the round of 16 in each of the last three editions.

“What doubts do you think my team is going to have? Zero doubts,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, who had warned before the match that Cape Verde could be one of the surprise teams of the World Cup. “We know how difficult this competition is. The idea we need to follow is what took us here and what made us European champions.”

Spain plays Saudi Arabia on Sunday and Cape Verde faces Uruguay.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Spain vs Cape Verde Extended Highlights

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