Cape Verde achieved a historic milestone as the smallest nation to reach the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 after securing second place in Group H with a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia. The Blue Sharks’ remarkable journey saw them finish the group stage with three draws, earning a spot in the knockout stage where they will face defending champions Argentina at Miami Stadium on July 3. Throughout the match, Cape Verde displayed a more threatening performance, with Willy Semedo making crucial saves and Kevin Pina coming close to scoring with a powerful long-range shot.
Saudi Arabia’s hopes rested on goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais, who made a key save from Laros Duarte’s attempt as Cape Verde pressed forward. Cape Verde’s undefeated run in the group stage marked them as the third African team to reach the Round of 32 without a loss in their debut appearances, following the footsteps of Morocco, Cameroon, and Nigeria in previous editions. Meanwhile, other results saw Belgium topping Group G by defeating Egypt, and teams like South Africa and South Korea securing their places in the next stage.
As the group stage nears completion, the teams qualifying for the Round of 32 include a mix of nations such as Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Spain, France, Argentina, and others. The Round of 32 commences on June 28, with Cape Verde’s clash against Argentina taking center stage as the current world champions.
