Spain held by tiny Cape Verde at World Cup

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LOS ANGELES — European champions Spain were held to a shock 0-0 draw by tiny World Cup debutants Cape Verde on Monday.

Spain, regarded as one of the strong pre-tournament favourites, had been expected to cruise past Cape Verde in their Group H opener in Atlanta.

Cape Verde's supporters cheer ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group H football match between Spain and Cape Verde at the Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. (Photo by Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP)

But despite enjoying 74 percent possession and laying siege to the Cape Verde goal, the 2010 world champions were unable to find a breakthrough against the underdogs from the volcanic archipelago of just 525,000 people, who are ranked as 2000-1 outsiders to win the World Cup by several betting websites.

Not even the introduction off the bench of Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal could engineer a goal for Luis de la Fuente's men.

Spain's forward #21 Mikel Oyarzabal (down) reacts as Cape Verde's players celebrate at the end of the 2026 World Cup Group H football match between Spain and Cape Verde at the Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. (Photo by Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP)

Cape Verde's players and supporters, meanwhile, celebrated wildly after securing an improbable point in what was their first ever World Cup match.

The underdogs, nicknamed the Blue Sharks, had never qualified for the World Cup, but were boosted in their bid to qualify for the finals after FIFA's expansion of the tournament to 48 teams.

Cape Verde's goalkeeper #01 Vozinha celebrates with his national flag at the end of the 2026 World Cup Group H football match between Spain and Cape Verde at the Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP)

In other games on Monday, Saudi Arabia face Uruguay in Group H in Miami, while Belgium face Mohamed Salah's Egypt in a Group G game in Seattle.