TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Spain were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by World Cup debutants Cape Verde in their Group H opener at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the United States, on Monday, June 15.
Despite dominating possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities, La Roja were unable to find a breakthrough against a disciplined Cape Verde side led by an outstanding performance from veteran goalkeeper Vozinha.
Spain controlled 74 percent of possession and registered 27 shots, seven of them on target. Cape Verde, meanwhile, managed just six attempts, with only one on target.
Luis de la Fuente's side started brightly and dictated the tempo from the opening whistle. Cape Verde remained organized defensively and showed resilience under sustained pressure.
The first notable incident came in the 16th minute when Sidny Lopes Cabral received a yellow card for a hard challenge, becoming the first player booked by referee Adham Makhadmeh.
Spain came closest to scoring in the 39th minute. Ferran Torres struck the post from close range, and the rebound fell to Mikel Oyarzabal, whose header was brilliantly saved by Vozinha.
Torres had another golden opportunity five minutes before halftime. Left unmarked inside the box, he aimed a shot toward the bottom-left corner, but Vozinha reacted quickly to keep the scores level.
Spain continued to threaten in first-half stoppage time when Aymeric Laporte met a corner with a header, but the effort was comfortably gathered by the Cape Verde goalkeeper.
The score remained goalless at halftime.
Spain resumed control after the break and continued searching for an opener. Fabian Ruiz tested Vozinha with a header in the 56th minute, but the Cape Verde captain dealt with it comfortably.
Cape Verde made a triple substitution in the 61st minute, introducing Nuno Da Costa, Deroy Duarte, and Willy Semedo in an effort to inject fresh energy into the side.
Spain responded by bringing on Lamine Yamal and Mikel Merino in the 71st minute. The changes immediately added urgency to Spain's attack.
Just two minutes later, Merino found himself with a clear chance inside the penalty area, but his low effort was once again denied by the impressive Vozinha, who continued to frustrate the European side.
Spain maintained relentless pressure throughout the closing stages. Marc Cucurella fired from inside the box in the 83rd minute, but his shot lacked power and was easily collected. Oyarzabal also threatened five minutes later, only to see his effort blocked by Cape Verde's defense.
Cape Verde nearly produced a dramatic winner in stoppage time. In the 90+1st minute, Diney Borges connected with a corner kick and sent a powerful header toward the bottom corner, forcing the Spanish goalkeeper into an excellent save.
Neither side could find a decisive goal before the final whistle, leaving Spain to settle for a disappointing draw while Cape Verde celebrated a memorable point in the country's first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance.
Read: 2026 World Cup Roundup: Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Belgium Held to Draws
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