World Cup
Cape Verde’s World Cup Fairytale Rolls On as Tiny Island Nation Dreams of More History
The remarkable World Cup journey of Cape Verde continued on Friday as the tiny island nation secured a historic place in the Round of 32, proving that dreams can flourish on football’s biggest stage regardless of size or pedigree.
Moments after their goalless draw with Saudi Arabia sealed second place in Group H, Cape Verde’s players gathered around a mobile phone inside the stadium, anxiously watching the closing moments of Spain’s 1-0 victory over Uruguay. When the final whistle sounded, confirming their qualification, the squad erupted in celebration.
The scenes encapsulated exactly the kind of story FIFA envisioned when it expanded the World Cup to 48 teams and increased the number of knockout places to 32.
For a nation of barely 500,000 people, qualification for the knockout stage represents one of the greatest achievements in the country’s sporting history.
The celebrations extended well beyond the pitch as thousands of Cape Verde supporters inside Houston Stadium sang, danced and embraced one another after witnessing their team secure a date with world champions Argentina in Miami on July 3.
Coach Bubista had insisted before the match that the World Cup should belong to every nation and not just the traditional powers of global football. His team have become the embodiment of that belief.
While the tournament’s biggest stars and title contenders continue to dominate headlines, Cape Verde have emerged as one of the competition’s most inspiring stories, demonstrating that determination, discipline and belief can sometimes bridge the gap between football’s giants and its emerging nations.
Midfielder Deroy Duarte, who was named man of the match against Saudi Arabia, struggled to contain his emotions after helping write a new chapter in his country’s football history.
“Honestly, it’s mad. I feel like I’m in a dream,” Duarte said.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always dreamed of playing in a World Cup. To be man of the match and make history is something I could never have imagined.”
Cape Verde progressed without winning a match, collecting three draws in a group that included former world champions Spain and Uruguay as well as Saudi Arabia. Their disciplined defensive performance against Spain in the opening match earned admiration across the football world and laid the foundation for their unexpected success.
Their resilience has won them supporters far beyond their shores. On Friday, Houston Stadium was awash with Cape Verde shirts as neutrals adopted the tournament’s newest underdogs.
The challenge awaiting them could hardly be greater. Standing between Cape Verde and a place in the Round of 16 are defending world champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi and packed with world-class talent.
Yet the islanders are refusing to abandon hope.
“First, let’s celebrate. We’re so happy. Let’s hope all Cape Verdeans are happy too. From tomorrow, we’ll focus on the next match,” Duarte said.
“It’s against Argentina, isn’t it? A tough match, but let’s believe. Anything is possible.”
Whether their adventure ends against Argentina or continues even further, Cape Verde have already achieved something special. In a tournament often dominated by football’s established powers, they have become the Cinderella story of the 2026 World Cup — a reminder that passion, unity and belief can still create magic on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
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Twice world champions Uruguay suffered one of the biggest disappointments of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Friday as their campaign ended in failure, frustration and mounting questions over the future of coach Marcelo Bielsa.
Uruguay were eliminated after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in their final Group H match, ending a dismal tournament in which they failed to register a single victory. Earlier draws against Saudi Arabia and World Cup debutants Cape Verde left Bielsa’s side needing a positive result against the Spaniards, but they were unable to deliver.
The exit was particularly damaging given the tournament’s expanded 48-team format, which allows 32 nations to progress to the knockout rounds. Uruguay became the only South American team to fail to advance, a result that will rank among the country’s most disappointing World Cup performances.
Expectations had been high before the tournament. With a squad featuring midfield stars Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur and Manuel Ugarte, alongside striker Darwin Nunez, Uruguay were widely tipped to reach the knockout stage with relative ease following an encouraging qualifying campaign and a third-place finish at the 2024 Copa America.
Instead, the South Americans struggled throughout the group phase, producing uninspiring displays and failing to convert possession into meaningful chances or goals. Their elimination also extended a worrying run of form, with Uruguay still searching for a competitive victory since October, when they defeated Uzbekistan in a friendly international.
The early exit means Uruguay have now failed to progress beyond the group stage in consecutive World Cups, intensifying scrutiny of Bielsa’s tenure.
The disappointing campaign unfolded amid reports of growing unrest within the squad. Tensions surrounding Bielsa’s demanding methods had surfaced before the tournament, with senior players reportedly unhappy about the intensity of training sessions and aspects of the team’s tactical direction.
Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer Luis Suarez was among those who publicly questioned elements of Bielsa’s management style. Local media reports also suggested that team leaders Valverde, Bentancur, Ugarte and goalkeeper Sergio Rochet held a meeting with the Argentine coach before the decisive clash against Spain to discuss concerns over training workloads and player fatigue.
According to the reports, the discussions became heated as players voiced fears that the physical demands of Bielsa’s regime were affecting performances on the pitch.
The uncertainty surrounding the coach’s future has only increased following the team’s elimination. Bielsa had already hinted before the tournament that his time in charge could be coming to an end, stating in May that his “job ends with the World Cup.”
With Uruguay departing the tournament without a win and amid reports of dressing-room friction, the coming weeks are expected to bring significant reflection within the country’s football federation as it considers the next chapter after a World Cup campaign that fell well short of expectations.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Senegal produced a dazzling second-half display to become the first African team to score five goals in a FIFA World Cup 2026 match, thrashing 10-man Iraq 5-0 on Friday and keeping alive their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.
With survival at stake, the Lions of Teranga knew only a convincing victory would give them a realistic chance of sneaking into the Round of 32 as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams. They responded with a performance full of power, flair and determination that left Iraq overwhelmed and ultimately eliminated.
The match had barely settled when Senegal struck. In the fourth minute, Lamine Camara whipped a corner into a crowded penalty area where Abdoulaye Seck rose highest. His downward header took a slight touch off Habib Diarra’s boot and looped beyond helpless goalkeeper Ahmed Basil to give Senegal the perfect start.
Things soon went from bad to worse for Iraq.
Sadio Mane, sensing an opening, burst clear towards goal only to be hauled down by defender Rebin Sulaka just outside the penalty area. After consulting VAR, English referee Anthony Taylor reached for the red card, reducing Iraq to ten men and handing Senegal a numerical advantage for more than an hour.
Yet Iraq refused to surrender.
Despite being a man down, the Asian side continued to attack courageously and occasionally troubled the Senegal defence. Senegal, meanwhile, struggled to convert their superiority into goals before the interval, with Mane and Ismail Jakobs firing speculative efforts wide.
Whatever was said in the Senegal dressing room during the break had an immediate effect.
The African side emerged with renewed urgency and soon turned the contest into a celebration.
Ismaila Sarr doubled the lead from close range, registering his fourth World Cup goal and becoming Senegal’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament. The strike opened the floodgates.
Substitute Pape Gueye then stole the spotlight.
The midfielder unleashed two stunning long-range thunderbolts that flew past Basil and ignited wild celebrations among thousands of Senegal supporters packed into the stadium. Each strike was greeted by deafening roars and rhythmic dancing in the stands as fans sensed history unfolding before their eyes.
Not to be outdone, fellow substitute Iliman Ndiaye added another spectacular effort from distance, completing a five-star performance and ensuring Senegal became the first African nation to score five goals in a single World Cup match.
As the final minutes ticked away, the sea of green in the stands found its voice. Chants of “Senegal! Senegal!” echoed around the stadium while supporters danced and waved flags, hoping their team’s emphatic victory would be enough to extend their stay in North America.
The result lifted Senegal to third place in Group I with three points, behind group winners France and runners-up Norway. Iraq finished bottom of the group without a point and exited the competition.
For Senegal, however, the story is not yet complete. Their fate now rests on results elsewhere as they wait anxiously to discover whether their historic five-goal triumph will earn them one of the eight coveted places reserved for the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
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France finished atop Group I at the FIFA World Cup after Ousmane Dembele produced a scintillating first-half hat-trick to inspire Les Bleus to a commanding 4-1 victory over a heavily rotated Norway side on Friday.
Already assured of qualification for the knockout rounds, the 2018 world champions underlined their title credentials with an attacking display that left Norway struggling to cope despite having already secured second place in the group.
France nearly made the perfect start when captain Kylian Mbappe rattled the crossbar with a fierce drive just 25 seconds into the contest. The breakthrough arrived moments later when Mbappe threaded a superb pass through the Norwegian defence for Ballon d’Or winner Dembele, who calmly fired home in the seventh minute.
Dembele doubled France’s advantage midway through the half with a brilliantly angled finish, continuing a dazzling display that highlighted his growing influence at the tournament.
Norway, who rested 10 of their 11 regular starters, including leading scorer Erling Haaland, briefly threatened a response when the unmarked Thelo Aasgaard reduced the deficit. However, the goal proved little more than a consolation as Dembele completed his first World Cup hat-trick in the 32nd minute with another clinical finish.
The French forward’s treble effectively settled the contest before halftime, leaving Norway with a mountain to climb.
The Scandinavians were handed an opportunity to narrow the gap early in the second half when they won a penalty, but Jorgen Strand Larsen saw his effort saved five minutes after the restart.
France remained in control throughout the second period and added further gloss to the scoreline in stoppage time when Desire Doue struck the fourth goal to cap an impressive evening for Didier Deschamps’ men.
The result ensured France finished as Group I winners and maintained their unbeaten record heading into the knockout stage. Their Round of 32 opponents will only be confirmed after the completion of Saturday’s group matches, although Sweden are currently the most likely challengers.
Norway, despite the defeat, advance as runners-up and will face Côte d’Ivoire in the Round of 32 in Dallas on June 30.
For France, the night belonged to Dembele, whose first World Cup hat-trick provided a timely reminder of the attacking firepower at the disposal of one of the tournament favourites.
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Uruguay Crash Out of World Cup Amid Poor Results and Growing Internal Tensions
Cape Verde’s World Cup Fairytale Rolls On as Tiny Island Nation Dreams of More History
With Super Goals from Super Subs, Senegal Hit Iraq For Five To Keep World Cup Dream Alive
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