How do you describe what we saw in Atlanta? An inspiring performance? A powerhouse squad playing too one-dimensionally? 

Whichever way you want to call it, Cape Verde making its World Cup debut in the grandest of fashion by stalling mighty Spain will forever be remembered.  

Cape Verde, an archipelago nation off the coast of Africa and the third-smallest country ever to World Cup to qualify based on population, made history after earning a 0-0 result against Spain, a tournament favorite and European powerhouse. 

What an ending to the match, what a story. What a World Cup. Here are my takeaways: 

  A Tale Of Two Teams

It was a heroic and relentless performance that will forever be remembered by Cape Verdeans (and soccer fans in general) everywhere around the world. 

For context, here are some numbers. Cape Verde is ranked 67th in FIFA World Rankings compared to second-ranked Spain – the ninth-largest gap ever in a World Cup fixture and a difference of 65 spots.

What’s more, all 26 players of Cape Verde’s national team have a combined transfer value of approximately $63.1 million. Compare that to Spain’s teenage superstar Lamine Yamal, who made a second-half appearance, who has a reported value of $232.1 million. Or Spain’s midfielder Gavi at $174 million. 

HISTORICAL UPSET ALERT FIFA World Cup Now reacts to SHOCKING Spain-Cape Verde scoreless draw ️

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TheBlue Sharks delivered a fantastic, heroic performance, frustrating Spain’s possession and its 27 shots. Cape Verde did not allow the European side to get out of first gear throughout the match. 

But this is not a Cinderella story. Cape Verde is a team that plays without nerves. It committed its players to any presure from Spain and remained extremely well organized. Monday’s result is a testament to commitment and heart, and I am so insanely proud of this achievement … and I absolutely have no connection to the country. 

What’s more, the African side even had some chances to enter the final third. It wasn’t until the last five minutes that Spain truly threatened at goal. Which brings us to …

2. Vozinha Leads The Blue Sharks

In a tournament that includes several 40-year-old players across the field (Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, Edin Dzeko), we didn’t expect to be talking about a Cape Verde keeper who plays in the Portuguese second division.

But Vozinha produced seven excellent saves to keep his clean sheet and give his team the result. He was playing the match of his life and would continue throughout. What a performance. He deserves all the flowers.

The resilience continued in the second half as Spain remained thwarted by Cape Verde. That team felt like it wanted more and was determined to create history. It rallied around the keeper to help keep Spain’s attack at bay. 

3. Lamine Yamal’s World Cup Debut Sputtered

 (Photo by Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images) –>

Fresh from recovery after a hamstring injury, Yamal entered the pitch and the energy around the stadium — and on the pitch — immediately changed. His mere presence ignited a much-needed spark and every time he touched the ball on the right wing, the crowd erupted. 

Cape Verde, therefore, needed to put two and even three men on the young phenom from Barcelona because they knew the danger he possessed. But still, Cape Verde held strong. 

Let’s be very honest here. In the first half without Yamal or Williams, Spain was one dimensional, with the usual amount of possession (70%) but with nothing to show for it. 

Cape Verde, as said, needs to take a lot of the credit here but regardless, let’s also call it as it is: it was not good enough for a team who is favored as a team who can win it all.

4. Possession Doesn’t Matter Without Goals

Something I always stress with teams like Spain is the fact that possession without intent is meaningless and that’s exactly what we saw in the first half and it shouldn’t take the introduction of Yamal to get the team going. And even when he came on, there was not enough aggression. 

I hope De la Fuente shows his team highlights from two years ago when Spain won the Euros, because that’s exactly what they need – to inject some direct energy going forward. Pretty patterns are just that: pretty. And when it comes to weapons, it can’t just fall to two players. 

For now, however — I am doing nothing else but saluting Cape Verde, its goalkeeper Vozinha and the manager, Bubista — who, as a former captain, knows too well the mountains his team had to climb to get here. 

This is what the World Cup is all about. It’s a tournament where heroes are born on the pitch.

4 ½. What’s Next?

For Spain, La Roja stays in Atlanta with a Sunday matchup against Saudi Arabia, whilst Cape Verde travels to Miami to face Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay on the same day.  And with eight third-place teams from the 12 groups advancing to the World Cup knockout rounds, Cape Verde has added its name to the mix. 

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Belgium winger Jérémy Doku could miss matches later in the World Cup because of the impending birth of his first child.

Ahead of his team’s World Cup opener against Egypt in Seattle on Monday, Doku told outlets including Belgian newspaper HLN that his wife, Shireen, is expected to give birth to his son during the knockout phase of the World Cup, specifically in early July, around the rounds of 32 and 16.

The 24-year-old forward, who plays for Premier League club Manchester City, would have to travel from Seattle to England to be there in time whenever Shireen goes into labor.

“No one wants to miss a birth,” Doku told reporters. “Moreover, it is my first child. But I also know that there is a lot involved in football. In any case, the FA sympathizes with the players and our situations, so we will see what we can do.”

Doku has represented Belgium since 2020. In World Cup qualifying in 2025, he scored in a 4-3 win over Wales. He added two more goals in a 7-0 victory over Liechtenstein, a result which clinched his team’s berth.

In 42 appearances for his country, Doku has scored seven goals.

His participation in the World Cup was briefly called into question when he reportedly left Tuesday’s training session early because of some breathing issues. He was a full participant in all portions of practice leading up to Monday’s match that media could watch.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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The Polymarket promo code FOX unlocks a $50 bonus as Monday’s World Cup slate delivers another day of must-watch action. Group H opened with a stunning outcome. Now, Saudi Arabia or Uruguay can capitalize when they face off today.

Uruguay’s path to winning the group became a lot wider. Stars Federico Valverde, Darwin Núñez, and Manuel Ugarte lead the Uruguay squad and look to take advantage of the opportunity to take the lead in group play. Saudi Arabia has already shown it can shock the world after its stunning upset of Argentina in 2022. 

Beyond Group H, Belgium and Egypt headline another intriguing Monday matchup as the tournament continues to produce more drama, and it’s only day five. One result can change an entire group, and the drama is only building as the road to the World Cup trophy heats up.

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Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay Chances

*Odds/Probability are subject to change*

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Uruguay	68%	68¢	33¢
Saudi Arabia	12%	12¢	89¢
Tie	22%	22¢	79¢

More markets available on Polymarket.

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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The name of the Cape Verde goalkeeper who shut out Spain is only one word, and it isn’t “Him,” although that might be more appropriate following his performance on Monday. 

Vozinha, whose real name is Josimar José Évora Dias, recorded seven saves in Cape Verde’s stunning 0-0 draw against Spain in Monday’s Group H opener. The 40-year-old had a string of leaping and diving saves late in the first half before making a few big stops late in the second half. As a result, Vozinha won man of the match. 

So, who is Vozinha, the star who gave Cape Verde a point in its World Cup debut? Here’s what to know about the Cape Verdean goalkeeper.

Why Does He Go By Vozinha?

While Vozinha isn’t his real name, the Cape Verdean goalkeeper said he got the name at a young age thanks to his grandparents. In an interview with FIFA, Vozinha said that his grandparents opted to call him Vozinha as he was raised by them and not his parents. Vozinha said that his father was serving in the military and his mother had to work.

However, the name Vozinha wound up sticking for a different reason. When he moved to Angola to play for Progresso, Vozinha had a decision to make with his name. 

“When I arrived in Angola, there was another goalkeeper named Josimar and I said I am not going to put Josimar II on the shirt — if everyone knew me as Vozinha in Cape Verde, that’s what I would be,” Vozinha told FIFA.

What Did Vozinha Say About Cape Verde’s Draw?

Vozinha was emotional when the final whistle blew in Monday’s match, appearing to hold back tears as he was embraced by his teammates. 

In a post-match interview with FOX Sports’ Alex Aljoe, Vozinha explained why he was emotional following the match. 

“I worked for all my life for this, for this moment, for this dream. A lot of generations in the past was dreaming with this. They did not shift,” Vozinha said. “Now, the dream come true. All of us are here because we worked a lot to be here. We deserved to be here today. A great game against Spain because it’s one of the best national teams in the world.”

What History Did Vozinha Make On Monday?

In terms of FIFA rankings, Cape Verde’s draw was the fourth-most surprising result in the history of the World Cup. Cape Verde entered the tournament ranked 67th and Spain entered the tournament ranked second.

As for Vozinha, he became the third-oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a men’s World Cup match, after Peter Shilton (40 years, 281 days) and Dino Zoff (40 years, 130 days), per FOX Sports Research. Vozinha is the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in his World Cup debut and just the second goalkeeper aged 40 or older to make at least seven saves in a World Cup match since 1966, per OPTA.

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How Big Of A Star Has Vozinha Become?

Vozinha has already seen his social media following grow in a major way in the hours following Monday’s match. His followers on Instagram have gone from 50,000 to 2.2 million as of 4:30 p.m. ET on Monday.

What Was Vozinha’s International Career Like Before Monday?

Vozinha had 90 international caps for Cape Verde prior to Monday’s match, beginning his senior international career in 2012. He recorded nine clean sheets for Cape Verde over the previous year before blanking Spain. He logged three clean sheets in five matches for Cape Verde in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. 

What Club Team Does Vozinha Play For?

Vozinha currently plays for Chaves in Liga Portugal 2, Portugal’s second division of soccer. He’s spent the bulk of his club career with Progresso (2012-15) and AEL Limassol (2017-22), though. Vozinha logged 116 caps during his time with AEL Limassol, a club in the Cypriot First Division.

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The Kalshi Promo Code FOXSPORTS unlocks a $10 trade bonus as another pivotal day of World Cup action unfolds. 

Spain unexpectedly tied with Cape Verde in a 0-0 draw. Group H has suddenly been thrown wide open, making the Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia match even more interesting.

Uruguay begins its 15th World Cup appearance led by Marcelo Bielsa and a talented core featuring Darwin Núñez, and Manuel Ugarte.

Captain Salem Al-Dawsari leads the Saudi Arabia squad eager to start this group stage with a win.

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Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay Chances

*Odds/Probability are subject to change*

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Uruguay	68%	68¢	33¢
Saudi Arabia	12%	12¢	89¢
Tie	22%	22¢	79¢

More markets available on Kalshi.

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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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.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

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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