Cape Verde already is the World Cup’s best story
Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images If winning a point against Spain with a heroic defensive performance wasn’t enough to make you fall in love with Cape Verde, they provided a definitive claim to become everyone’s favorite team in World Cup 2026 thanks to a remarkable 2-2 draw against Uruguay that gives them a real chance to reach the knockout rounds in their first-ever appearance. When Agustín Canobbio scored Uruguay’s second goal just before halftime to take the lead and all the momentum, it seemed as though Cape Verde’s magic carpet ride was about to end in the second half as the superior team looked set to take over in Miami. But an incredible show of resilience and the ability to take advantage of a horrible error by the Uruguay defense allowed them to score a huge equalizer, and cult hero Vozinha showed up again to help his nation pick up a second point in two games against the strongest teams in the group. A win against Saudi Arabia in the group finale will secure second place, which no one ever thought was possible when the World Cup began. But Cape Verde’s unwavering belief has them in a position to realize their wildest dreams, and the entire world now has no choice but to be behind them. Belgium will always let you down No one will argue that this is the best Belgium side we’ve ever seen, but the young talent around Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku is certainly good enough to have more than just two points in this World Cup after two games against Egypt and Iran. Belgium’s only goal in the group stage so far is an Egypt own goal, and their attack looks devoid of real ideas despite having one of the greatest creative minds in recent history in De Bruyne. Rudi Garcia’s appointment as coach was not exactly well received in the country anyway, and his performance so far in the tournament has proven that he probably wasn’t the man for the job. The goalless draw against Iran in Los Angeles followed a very similar script to Turkey’s elimination against Paraguay: a whole lot of possession, some decent but not great chances, plenty of hopeful shots from distance, and virtually no imagination in the final third. And the biggest problem is this is exactly what we saw at EURO 2024 and the last two years of the World Cup cycle, and it’s a very worrying sign for a future that won’t have Courtois, De Bruyne and Lukaku sooner rather than later. Belgium’s inability to turn their immense talent into an actual team is no longer a big surprise. This may very well just be who they are. Oh hey, Spain is actually good! Spain’s lethargic performance in their opener against Cape Verde was a big surprise given their results and performances in the last two years, and their track record of World Cup disappointments outside of the 2010 title seemed to be coming back to haunt them. But a very impressive 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Atalanta on Sunday was enough to restore faith in La Roja’s ability to go deep in this tournament. Luis de la Fuente made good changes to his lineup, the entire team played with more energy, Mikel Oyarzabal remembered that he’s actually a lethal striker for the national team, and Lamine Yamal needed only 45 minutes to show why he’s one of the stars of the World Cup. Spain will be expected to beat a disappointing Uruguay side in the group finale and seal top spot, which will likely avoid a huge early matchup with Argentina in the Round of 32 and give them a nice path going forward in the knockouts. If the version we saw on Sunday is what we’ll see for the rest of the World Cup, Spain absolutely deserve to be called favorites. Mo Salah finally has a World Cup moment Before Sunday’s game against New Zealand in Vancouver, Mo Salah had played in three total World Cup matches, scoring both of his goals in losses in 2018 and getting an assist in the opening game of this tournament. But he was yet to win a match or make a truly decisive contribution, and when New Zealand took the lead in the first half and Egypt looked headed for a painful defeat, it seemed as though Salah’s moment would never come. Egypt took over in the second half, however, and Ziko’s header brough them back in the contest before we finally saw Salah do something special: a beautiful one-two inside the box with Ziko followed by a gorgeous finish gave his nation the lead, and Trézéguet’s header with 10 minutes to win sealed a 3-1 win, Salah’s first-ever victory at the World Cup, to put Egypt at the top of the Group G ahead of Friday’s finale against Iran needing only a draw to secure a spot in the knockouts. Salah is undoubtedly one of the greatest players in club football in the last decade, but he never had a magical moment with Egypt at the world stage before. He has one now, with a chance for more to come in what could be his last World Cup.
