World Cup Group Stage - 3
Cape Verde Islands 0 - 0 FT Saudi Arabia
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
9' W. Pina
↓ H. Tambakti ↑A. Lajami 33'
HT
↓ A. Al Khaibari ↑M. Al Juwayr 46'
61' ↓ D. Livramento ↑N. Da Costa
61' ↓ W. Semedo ↑H. Varela
↓ S. Al Dawsari ↑M. Abu Al Shamat 66'
↓ S. Mandash ↑A. Al Hamdan 66'
N. Al Dawsari 67'
71' ↓ R. Mendes ↑G. Rodrigues
71' ↓ J. Monteiro ↑L. Duarte
↓ N. Boushal ↑M. Al Harbi 82'
F. Al Buraikan 90'+3
90'+4 ↓ W. Pina ↑S. Moreira
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Cape Verde Islands
Goalkeepers
Vozinha 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Wagner Pina 
NPC
94
Minutes
94
Minutes
27%
Pass Acc
6.9
Rating
Pico
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Diney Borges
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
João Paulo 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
8
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
Kevin Lenini
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryan Mendes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Deroy Duarte 
ENFORCER
4
Tackles
4
Tackles
7
Duels Won
78%
Win %
Jamiro Monteiro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Willy Semedo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
Forwards
Dailon Rocha Livramento
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
BENCH
Márcio Rosa 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
CJ Dos Santos
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Stopira
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Logan Costa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Steven Moreira
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kelvin Pires
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Laros Duarte
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yannick Semedo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hélio Varela
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nuno Da Costa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Garry Rodrigues
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jovane Cabral
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gilson Tavares
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Saudi Arabia
Goalkeepers
Mohammed Al-Owais
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Saud Abdulhamid
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Abdulelah Al-Amri
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hassan Tambakti
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
33
Entry
Nawaf Boushal
LATE SHIFT
8
Late Mins
8
Late Mins
82
Total Mins
82
Entry
Midfielders
Sultan Mandash
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
Abdullah Al-Khaibari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Nasser Al-Dawsari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Salem Al-Dawsari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
Forwards
Mohamed Kanno 
MAGNET
69
Activity
69
Activity
47
Passes
22
Duels
Firas Al-Buraikan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Nawaf Al-Aqidi
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ahmed Al-Kassar
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ali Lajami
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ali Majrashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Moteb Al-Harbi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jehad Thakri
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hassan Kadesh
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Musab Al Juwayr
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
49
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ayman Yahya
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ziyad Aljohani
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ala'a Al-Hejji
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Khalid Al-Ghannam
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Abdullah Al-Hamdan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Saleh Al-Shehri
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Fear and Frustration in World Cup Stalemate
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 15/100. A scoreless slog at NRG Stadium where the fear of elimination completely paralyzed both nations on the global stage.
Cautious Beginnings
The Stakes could not have been higher under the lights at NRG Stadium, with both teams desperate for Group Stage survival. Yet, rather than a frantic clash befitting the World Cup, the opening phase quickly devolved into a tactical waiting game. Cape Verde Islands edged possession, keeping the ball safe in their own half without penetrating the defensive lines of their opponents. For Saudi Arabia, the strategy relied heavily on absorbing pressure and waiting for a counter-attack that never really materialized. Salem Al-Dawsari attempted to inject some much-needed pace down the flank to spark a lifeless forward line, but the final ball was consistently lacking. It became clear early on that the sheer terror of making a fatal mistake outweighed the desire to push forward and secure a vital victory.
The Attacking Void
As the clock ticked on, the match settled into a stubborn Balance of shared frustration. Cape Verde eventually ramped up their offensive efforts, peppering the penalty area with a flurry of 15 overall shots. However, their finishing touch deserted them entirely on the big stage; despite racking up a respectable expected goals figure, only two of those efforts actually troubled the goalkeeper. Ryan Mendes found scattered pockets of space just outside the box but repeatedly saw his powerful efforts blocked or sliced wide of the target. The Saudi defense remained incredibly rigid and deeply cynical, happily conceding 16 tactical fouls to break up any emerging rhythm rather than risking genuine defensive exposure. The result was a disjointed middle period devoid of any flowing football.
A Stagnant Finish
In the dying moments, neither side possessed the sustained Intensity required to finally break the deadlock. The referee's final whistle ultimately confirmed a goalless draw that felt utterly inevitable from the very first minute of play. The drab result leaves Cape Verde finishing their group matches with a highly unusual record of three consecutive draws, clinging desperately to the hope that three points will somehow be enough to scrape through to the knockout rounds. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s deeply conservative campaign ends in massive disappointment. Their incredibly cautious tactical approach ultimately left them bottom of the pile with just two points, cementing an agonizingly early flight home from the tournament without a single victory to their name.
Key Questions
What does this mean for Cape Verde Islands's season?
With three consecutive draws and only three points, their World Cup knockout hopes depend entirely on the final results from other groups.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Group Stage Survival on the Line at NRG Stadium
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 48/100. With both nations stuck on a single point, this is a winner-takes-all scenario where a draw kills their knockout dreams.
The Setup
This June 27, 2026 clash is the definition of a tournament six-pointer. Both Cape Verde Islands and Saudi Arabia enter the fixture needing a victory at NRG Stadium. A maximum Stakes rating highlights the sheer desperation, as anything less than three points likely sends someone packing. Neither side has managed to build momentum, resulting in a modest Form rating across the board. While the Stars metric is noticeably low without global household names, the razor-thin competitive Balance ensures a tense, evenly matched struggle.
Key Battle
This match will be decided between the posts. Vozinha has been an absolute wall for the home side, and his shot-stopping reflexes will be put to the test in a proxy war against his counterpart, Mohammed Al-Owais. In a game destined to be tight, whichever keeper blinks first will condemn their nation.
Our Prediction
Expect a cagey, tactical grind rather than a free-flowing spectacle. Saudi Arabia will likely dominate possession, but Cape Verde Islands' stubborn defensive block will frustrate them. Our take is a narrow 1-0 win for the visitors, snatched late from a set-piece error.