FIFA World Cup

ESP Spain Spain - CPV Cabo Verde Cabo Verde

Spain Spain

Cabo Verde Cabo Verde

Atlanta Stadium(67,640 Spectators)

Adham Mohammed Tumah Makhadmeh

Full-time: Spain 0-0 Cape Verde

Spain leave this game with just a draw despite their best efforts, while Cape Verde earn a huge point against the odds. Despite spending almost all of the game around Cape Verde's box, clear openings were at a premium for the Spaniards, who called upon wing duo Yamal and Williams late on but to no effect.

End of second half

Full-time

90'

+ 3

Yellow card

Pedri

90'

+ 3

Almost there

Just two minutes of additional time remain.

90'

+ 1

On target

Borges meets the subsequent corner with a firm header but it's straight at Simón.

90'

Corner!

Cape Verde win their first corner late on.

88'

Vital block

Olmo picks out Mikel Oyarzabal after a swift counter but his first time effort hits Pico and goes out for a corner, which Cape Verde also clear.

87'

Substitution

Nico Williams

Rodri

Clock running down

Spain can't afford to waste too many more opportunities.

81'

Substitution

Dani Olmo

Ferrán Torres

79'

Substitution

Telmo Arcanjo

Jamiro Monteiro

78'

Will the pressure tell?

Spain continue to overwhelm Cape Verde, but time is running out to find a goal.

Passes

651

234

76'

Substitution

João Paulo

Sidny Lopes Cabral

73'

Cut apart

Yamal drives down the right before slipping it to Llorente, who then finds Merino by the penalty spot. Merino doesn't connect with his shot, and sees it dribble into the 'keeper's grasp.

72'

Star power

Yamal comes on to try and unlock this Cape Verde defence.

71'

Substitution

Lamine Yamal

Gavi

71'

Substitution

Mikel Merino

Fabián Ruiz

69'

Perfect timing

The second hydration break gives Cape Verde a chance to catch their breath.

66'

One way traffic

Spain are camped out in Cape Verde's defensive third as they intensify their search for a goal.

62'

Fresh legs

With just under half an hour left to play, Cape Verde ring the changes after what has been a monumental defensive effort until now.

61'

Substitution

Nuno Da Costa

Dailon Livramento

61'

Substitution

Willy Semedo

Jovane Cabral

61'

Substitution

Deroy Duarte

Laros Duarte

Changes on the horizon?

Will Spain look to their star-studded bench in the coming minutes, or is that elusive goal around the corner?

55'

Wayward

Spain have lacked that cutting edge in the final third so far this evening.

Goal attempts

11off target

4on target

3off target

0on target

54'

Clever attempt

Oyarzabal tries to catch Vozinha out by shooting rather than crossing from the left but the cheeky attempt goes wide of the near post.

51'

Wild finish

Ruiz shifts the ball onto his left on the edge of the area, giving himself a clear sight of goal before slashing his shot high and wide.

49'

Back to it

Oyarzabal can't guide his close range header goalward but Spain recycle the ball, leading to Ruiz bending an effort over the bar from range.

46'

We're back!

The second 45 is up and running.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Spain 0-0 Cape Verde

Spain have been the dominant side so far, but only began to open up the Cape Verde defence toward the end of the half. Torres missed a couple of good chances for Spain, who were otherwise limited to shots from distance. Cape Verde played some neat football of their own, but are yet to really threaten the Spanish backline.

Half-time

45'

+ 3

Laporte!

His near post header from a corner looks like it'll creep into the far corner, until Vozinha gets a fingertip to it at the last moment.

45'

Tame finish

A cross from the left finds Torres at the far post, but once again he can't take his chance, instead seeing his finish easily collected by Vozinha.

44'

Aimless

Lopes Cabral swings in a cross from the left but doesn't come close to finding a white shirt in the box.

39'

So close!

Torres misses a golden chance, hitting the bar from close range after a header across the six-yard box by Cucurella had found him. Oyarzabal's follow-up header is then pushed over the bar by the 'keeper.

Looking for answers

Will Spain manage to find a goal before half-time, or can Cape Verde keep them out?

36'

Offside

Pedri tests Vozinha with a powerful half volley from inside the area, but Cucurella was offside in the build-up.

31'

Chance squandered

Torres feeds Oyarzabal on the right-hand side of the box but his touch takes him wide and the chance goes begging.

29'

Well blocked

Cucurella cuts back to Ruiz inside the box but his effort is instantly shut down.

27'

Renewed energy

Cape Verde launch an attack immediately after the first hydration break.

22'

Sweeping move

A neat passing sequence sees Cape Verde reach the edge of Spain's box, but their momentum is halted by an offside call against Livramento.

At bay

Cape Verde have done well to limit Spain's attack in these early stages.

17'

Dominant, but frustrated

Spain are having almost all of the ball but have struggled to unlock the opposition defence so far.

Passes

140

16'

Yellow card

Sidny Lopes Cabral

14'

No way through

Pedri tries his luck from distance but doesn't test Vozinha with his effort.

10'

Missed chance

Cape Verde have the chance to break following a corner, but Spain recover quickly and come again.

Early control

It didn't take long for Spain to take hold of this game, but Cape Verde are standing firm so far.

Off we go!

Cape Verde get the action underway.

Kick-off!

Preparations begin

The sides are out on the pitch warming up.

Cape Verde's dream come true

Their coach, Pedro Leitão Brito, was positively beaming ahead of their clash with giants Spain: "It is an amazing opportunity to show our country to the world. We are very much happy to face Spain in the opener, this is a dream coming true."

Luis de la Fuente: "The Cape Verde match is the most important"

Ahead of their opener, Spain's coach refused to underestimate their opposition: "We are already seeing results that many people would never have predicted. One of our defining characteristics is that we always regard the next challenge as the most important of our lives. The Cape Verde match is the most important game of this World Cup."

Grimaldo on the bench

The Bayer Leverkusen man will have to wait for his first World Cup minutes as Marc Cucurella starts at left-back.

Starting line-up: Spain

Spain subs

Raya, J. García, Pubill, Grimaldo, E. García, Porro, Merino, Baena, Zubimendi, Olmo, Pino, Williams, Yamal, Muñoz, Iglesias

Starting line-up: Cabo Verde

Cape Verde subs

Rosa, Dos Santos, Stopira, Costa, W. Pina, Pires, Paulo, Rodrigues, D. Duarte, Y. Semedo, W. Semedo, Arcanjo, Da Costa, Varela, Benchimol

How they got here: Spain

Luis de la Fuente's Spain topped their qualifying group ahead of Türkiye after five wins and a draw in six games - in which they scored 21 goals - to book their place at the World Cup.

How they got here: Cape Verde

Cape Verde cruised through their qualifying group, losing just one of their ten games to finish ahead of Cameroon, meaning they qualified directly without having to go through the play-off system.

Bundesliga involvement

Bayer Leverkusen's Alejandro Grimaldo is the sole Bundesliga representative between the two nations. The Spaniard moved to Germany from Benfica in 2023 and has played 145 games across all competitions for Leverkusen - scoring 30 goals - on the way to securing a Bundesliga and DFB Cup double in 2023/24.

Welcome!

Follow all the action and live build-up from the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H clash between Spain and Cape Verde at Atlanta Stadium, USA, on Monday 15 June (kick-off 6pm CEST).