World Cup Group Stage - 1
Spain 0 - 0 FT Cape Verde Islands
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
S. Lopes Cabral 16'
HT
↓ J. Cabral ↑W. Semedo 61'
↓ D. Livramento ↑N. Da Costa 61'
↓ L. Duarte ↑D. Duarte 61'
71' ↓ F. Ruiz ↑M. Merino
71' ↓ Gavi ↑Lamine Yamal
↓ S. Lopes Cabral ↑Joao Paulo 76'
↓ J. Monteiro ↑T. Arcanjo 79'
81' ↓ F. Torres ↑D. Olmo
87' ↓ Rodri ↑N. Williams
90'+3 Pedri
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Spain
Goalkeepers
Unai Simón 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Marcos Llorente 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
76%
Pass Acc
Pau Cubarsí 
MAGNET
110
Activity
110
Activity
109
Passes
1
Duels
Aymeric Laporte
MAGNET
119
Activity
119
Activity
109
Passes
10
Duels
Marc Cucurella 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Midfielders
Fabián Ruiz
MAGNET
77
Activity
77
Activity
75
Passes
2
Duels
Rodri
MAGNET
135
Activity
135
Activity
127
Passes
8
Duels
Pedri
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
0
Assists
84%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Ferran Torres
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Mikel Oyarzabal
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pablo Gavi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
BENCH
David Raya 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Joan García
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Marc Pubill
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Eric García
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pedro Porro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alejandro Grimaldo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mikel Merino
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alex Baena
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Martín Zubimendi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dani Olmo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yéremy Pino
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nico Williams
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
7
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lamine Yamal
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Victor Muñoz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Borja Iglesias
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cape Verde Islands
Goalkeepers
Vozinha 
OCTOPUS
7
Saves
7
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
Steven Moreira
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pico 
SWEEPER
5
Cleanups
5
Cleanups
2
Interceptions
3
Blocks
Diney Borges 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
5
Tackles
67%
Duel Win %
Sidny Lopes Cabral
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
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
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Laros Duarte 
GHOST
11
Actions
11
Actions
61
Minutes
6.2
Rating
Jamiro Monteiro
LATE SHIFT
11
Late Mins
11
Late Mins
79
Total Mins
79
Entry
Jovane Cabral
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
Wagner Pina
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
Deroy Duarte
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
João Paulo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yannick Semedo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Telmo Arcanjo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Willy Semedo
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
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hélio Varela
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
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Mercedes-Benz Stadium Witnesses a Masterclass in Survival
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 27/100. A relentless Spanish siege meets an unbreakable wall as the heavy favourites are forced to settle for a frustrating draw on the world stage.
The Opening Act
Under the bright lights of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Spain wasted no time establishing their rhythm in this opening World Cup fixture. Dictating the tempo with supreme confidence, La Roja completely dominated possession, pinning their opponents deep into their own half. The midfield maestros, led by a commanding display from Rodri, circulated the ball with surgical precision. They set a relentless Intensity that forced Cape Verde Islands into a frantic defensive posture early on. Every phase of play seemed to flow through the Spanish midfield, creating a suffocating pressure cooker. Despite orchestrating numerous attacking sequences and racking up the passing statistics, the European heavyweights found the final third incredibly congested, setting the stage for a classic attack-versus-defence scenario on the global stage.
The Pivot
The true story of this encounter emerged as a phenomenal display of goalkeeper heroics. As the shot count spiralled to a staggering 25 attempts, the heavy favourites looked certain to break the deadlock. Pedri relentlessly picked passes through the lines, delivering five key balls that carved open the deep defensive block. Yet, Vozinha stood like a colossus between the posts. The Cape Verdean shot-stopper produced seven crucial saves, single-handedly keeping his nation alive amidst a barrage of set-piece pressure that included ten Spanish corners. His monumental reflexes elevated the Upset Factor with every passing minute, turning the pitch into a platform for one of the great individual defensive performances in recent international memory. The sheer volume of chances simply evaporated against an unbreakable wall.
Resolution
As the final whistle echoed, the contrasting emotions told the entire story of this tactical stalemate. For Spain, failing to convert a dominant shot volume into a victory is a bitter pill to swallow. The sheer Stakes of tournament football mean that dropping points in the opening group match instantly ramps up the pressure for their upcoming fixtures. Conversely, this hard-fought draw represents a monumental achievement for the island nation, proving that defensive discipline can neutralise technical superiority. They survived an absolute siege, walking away with a clean sheet that will be celebrated long into the night. This defensive masterclass completely reshapes the landscape of the group, leaving everyone wondering if this historic resilience can be sustained.
Key Questions
How did Cape Verde Islands pull off this shock result?
Disciplined defending and a historic goalkeeping display kept the relentless Spanish attacking siege totally at bay.
What made Vozinha the Man of the Match?
He delivered a monumental performance with seven crucial saves, single-handedly defying the massive shot volume of the opposition.
What does this mean for Spain's season?
A frustrating start to their tournament campaign means they must immediately find their clinical edge to secure progression from the group.
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.
A David vs Goliath World Cup Opener
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 7/100. While the disparity on paper points to a routine Spanish victory, World Cup opening games carry immense pressure where early mistakes can ruin a campaign.
The Setup
On June 15, 2026, the pristine turf at Mercedes-Benz Stadium plays host to a Group Stage opener that leans heavily towards one side. Spain arrive as massive favourites to dominate proceedings, carrying the weight of expectation on their shoulders. Conversely, Cape Verde Islands face an incredibly daunting task to secure a result. The modest Stakes metric reflects a straightforward group opener rather than a late-tournament clash, but make no mistake: in a short competition, every match is about surviving and advancing. Interestingly, the Stars rating is notably low, suggesting this fixture will be defined by tactical execution rather than individual brilliance. A modest Form grade implies a potential lack of explosive rhythm, but the European powerhouse should have plenty of quality in reserve.
Key Battle
With no single player stepping into the spotlight pre-match, this contest comes down to a classic unit-versus-unit tactical battle. The Spanish midfield machine will look to dictate possession, circulating the ball to exploit gaps in the Cape Verde Islands defensive block. The underdogs must remain incredibly disciplined, packing the penalty area and hoping to strike on rare counter-attacks. If the favourites score early, the floodgates could easily open.
Our Prediction
Expect a routine and entirely comfortable victory for the designated home side. Spain will monopolise the ball from the opening whistle, slowly suffocating their opponents in the final third. A multi-goal margin feels inevitable as they methodically break down a weary back line.