Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, 2026 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage
· FIFA World CupCape Verde's dream run continues, will face Argentina in R32
Cape Verde drew Saudi Arabia 0-0 to finish second in Group H
Match Timeline
- 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
- 0': First Half begins.
- 4': Foul by Saud Abdulhamid (Saudi Arabia).
- 4': João Paulo (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 4': Saud Abdulhamid (Saudi Arabia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 7': Foul by Mohamed Kanno (Saudi Arabia).
- 7': Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 7': Sultan Mandash (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 7': Foul by Willy Semedo (Cabo Verde).
- 8': Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 8': Foul by Wagner Pina (Cabo Verde).
- 8': Wagner Pina (Cabo Verde) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 13': Delay in match (Cabo Verde).
- 13': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 13': João Paulo (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 13': Foul by Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia).
- 18': Attempt blocked. Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Saud Abdulhamid with a cross.
- 18': Foul by Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde).
- 18': Nawaf Bu Washl (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 22': Attempt missed. Willy Semedo (Cabo Verde) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Deroy Duarte.
- 22': Corner, Cabo Verde. Conceded by Mohammed Al Owais.
- 24': Delay in match for a drinks break.
- 27': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 28': Foul by Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia).
- 28': Willy Semedo (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 30': Delay in match because of an injury Hassan Al Tambakti (Saudi Arabia).
- 33': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 33': Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Ali Lajami replaces Hassan Al Tambakti because of an injury.
- 34': Attempt blocked. Jamiro Monteiro (Cabo Verde) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Willy Semedo.
- 34': Abdullah Al Khaibari (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 34': Foul by Willy Semedo (Cabo Verde).
- 35': Ali Lajami (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 35': Foul by Jamiro Monteiro (Cabo Verde).
- 36': Wagner Pina (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 36': Foul by Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia).
- 37': Foul by Mohamed Kanno (Saudi Arabia).
- 37': Deroy Duarte (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 38': Corner, Cabo Verde. Conceded by Abdullah Al Khaibari.
- 39': Attempt missed. João Paulo (Cabo Verde) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jamiro Monteiro with a cross following a corner.
- 39': VAR Decision: Other Decision Cancelled.
- 41': Foul by Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia).
- 41': Wagner Pina (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 42': Attempt missed. Willy Semedo (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
- 45': Abdullah Al Khaibari (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 45': Foul by Ryan Mendes (Cabo Verde).
- 45': Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
- 45'+2': Attempt saved. Mohamed Kanno (Saudi Arabia) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Vozinha (Cabo Verde). Assisted by Abdulelah Al Amri.
- 45'+3': Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 45'+3': Foul by Jamiro Monteiro (Cabo Verde).
- 45'+4': Attempt blocked. Saud Abdulhamid (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 45'+7': First Half ends, Cabo Verde 0, Saudi Arabia 0.
- 45': Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Musab Al Juwayr replaces Abdullah Al Khaibari.
- 45': Second Half begins Cabo Verde 0, Saudi Arabia 0.
- 46': Corner, Saudi Arabia. Conceded by João Paulo.
- 47': Attempt missed. Abdulelah Al Amri (Saudi Arabia) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
- 48': Foul by Sultan Mandash (Saudi Arabia).
- 48': Willy Semedo (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 48': Attempt saved. Jamiro Monteiro (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Mohammed Al Owais (Saudi Arabia). Assisted by Wagner Pina.
- 50': Attempt missed. Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Ryan Mendes.
- 53': Handball by Mohamed Kanno (Saudi Arabia).
- 53': Attempt blocked. Ryan Mendes (Cabo Verde) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Wagner Pina.
- 55': Foul by Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia).
- 55': Pico Lopes (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 56': Corner, Cabo Verde. Conceded by Saud Abdulhamid.
- 57': Attempt missed. Deroy Duarte (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
- 61': Substitution, Cabo Verde. Nuno da Costa replaces Dailon Livramento.
- 61': Substitution, Cabo Verde. Hélio Varela replaces Willy Semedo.
- 63': Sultan Mandash (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 63': Foul by Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde).
- 66': Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Mohammed Abu Al Shamat replaces Salem Al Dawsari.
- 66': Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Abdullah Al Hamddan replaces Sultan Mandash.
- 66': Foul by Saud Abdulhamid (Saudi Arabia).
- 66': Hélio Varela (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 67': Attempt saved. Mohammed Abu Al Shamat (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top left corner by Vozinha (Cabo Verde). Assisted by Musab Al Juwayr.
- 67': Foul by Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia).
- 67': Nuno da Costa (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 67': Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 69': Delay in match for a drinks break.
- 71': Substitution, Cabo Verde. Laros Duarte replaces Jamiro Monteiro.
- 71': Substitution, Cabo Verde. Garry Rodrigues replaces Ryan Mendes.
- 72': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 73': Feras Al Brikan (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 73': Foul by Diney Borges (Cabo Verde).
- 74': Attempt saved. Laros Duarte (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Mohammed Al Owais (Saudi Arabia). Assisted by Nuno da Costa with a through ball.
- 75': Corner, Cabo Verde. Conceded by Mohammed Al Owais.
- 75': Attempt missed. Pico Lopes (Cabo Verde) header from the right side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Laros Duarte with a cross following a corner.
- 76': Corner, Saudi Arabia. Conceded by João Paulo.
- 77': Foul by Abdullah Al Hamddan (Saudi Arabia).
- 77': Wagner Pina (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 77': Attempt blocked. João Paulo (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Hélio Varela.
- 77': Saud Abdulhamid (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 77': Foul by Hélio Varela (Cabo Verde).
- 79': Attempt blocked. Garry Rodrigues (Cabo Verde) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Laros Duarte.
- 81': Foul by Abdullah Al Hamddan (Saudi Arabia).
- 81': Pico Lopes (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 82': Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Moteb Al Harbi replaces Nawaf Bu Washl.
- 83': Attempt blocked. Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Feras Al Brikan.
- 84': Attempt missed. Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
- 85': Attempt missed. Nuno da Costa (Cabo Verde) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Garry Rodrigues with a headed pass.
- 86': Attempt blocked. Wagner Pina (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Laros Duarte.
- 86': Offside, Cabo Verde. Garry Rodrigues is caught offside.
- 88': VAR Decision: Other Decision Cancelled.
- 90': Foul by Mohamed Kanno (Saudi Arabia).
- 90': Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90': Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
- 90'+2': Attempt saved. Abdullah Al Hamddan (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Vozinha (Cabo Verde). Assisted by Feras Al Brikan.
- 90'+3': Foul by Feras Al Brikan (Saudi Arabia).
- 90'+3': João Paulo (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 90'+3': Feras Al Brikan (Saudi Arabia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 90'+4': Substitution, Cabo Verde. Steven Moreira replaces Wagner Pina.
- 90'+5': Offside, Cabo Verde. Garry Rodrigues is caught offside.
- 90'+6': Second Half ends, Cabo Verde 0, Saudi Arabia 0.
- 0': Match ends, Cabo Verde 0, Saudi Arabia 0.
Statistics
 KSA |
CPV |
|
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Fouls | 10 |
| 3 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 0 | Offsides | 2 |
| 2 | Corner Kicks | 4 |
| 2 | Saves | 3 |
| 49 | Possession | 51 |
| 7 | SHOTS | 15 |
| 3 | ON GOAL | 2 |
| 0.4 | On Target % | 0.1 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 359 | Accurate Passes | 381 |
| 444 | Passes | 451 |
| 0.8 | Pass Completion % | 0.8 |
| 3 | Accurate Crosses | 2 |
| 11 | Crosses | 18 |
| 0.3 | Cross % | 0.1 |
| 50 | Long Balls | 55 |
| 21 | Accurate Long Balls | 29 |
| 0.4 | Long Balls % | 0.5 |
| 3 | Blocked Shots | 5 |
| 15 | Effective Tackles | 12 |
| 29 | Tackles | 15 |
| 0.5 | Tackle % | 0.8 |
| 11 | Interceptions | 13 |
| 25 | Effective Clearances | 29 |
| 25 | Clearances | 29 |
Game Information
Competition: FIFA World Cup
Venue: NRG Stadium
Location: Houston, Texas, USA
Attendance: 68,278
Venue: NRG Stadium
Location: Houston, Texas, USA
Attendance: 68,278
FIFA World Cup Table
| # | TEAM | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 3 | +5 | 7 |
| 2 | Cape Verde | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Uruguay | 3 | -1 | 2 |
| 4 | Saudi Arabia | 3 | -4 | 2 |
Line-Ups
Cape Verde (4-1-4-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Vozinha (GK) |
| 3 | Diney Borges |
| 4 | Pico Lopes |
| 6 | Kevin Pina |
| 8 | João Paulo |
| 24 | Wagner Pina  |
| 10 | Jamiro Monteiro |
| 14 | Deroy Duarte |
| 17 | Willy Semedo |
| 20 | Ryan Mendes |
| 19 | Dailon Livramento |
Saudi Arabia (4-4-2)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 21 | Mohammed Al-Owais (GK) |
| 5 | Hassan Al-Tambakti |
| 4 | Abdulelah Al-Amri |
| 13 | Nawaf Boushal |
| 12 | Saud Abdulhamid |
| 6 | Nasser Al-Dawsari |
| 15 | Abdullah Al-Khaibari |
| 10 | Salem Al-Dawsari |
| 20 | Sultan Mandash |
| 23 | Mohamed Kanno |
| 9 | Feras Al-Brikan |
FIFA World Cup News
Grading the 2026 World Cup from Spain's A to Infantino's F
The World Cup is officially over and it's time to provide some final grades to some of the teams and people who became household names in North America.
How will 2026 World Cup be remembered: Messi? Haaland? Cape Verde? Trump?
Every World Cup has one enduring legacy. 2022 was Messi's win. 2018 was Mbappe's breakout. What will 2026 be remembered for?
CONMEBOL president says the next World Cup will have 64 teams
The president of CONMEBOL has said on social media that the 2030 World Cup will be a "64-team tournament."
Erling Haaland, Vozinha gain most followers on Instagram during World Cup
The Norwegian striker and the goalie from Cape Verde were among the most followed players on Instagram during the 2026 World Cup.
Topps releasing trading card of Lionel Messi, infant Lamine Yamal
Topps is creating a trading card of a photo that became a sensation during the World Cup of Argentina's Lionel Messi holding Spain's Lamine Yamal, the company said Monday.