“Cape Verde surprises again as Salah shines in the World Cup.”

The world of football was once again left astonished: Cape Verde, experiencing a fairy tale in its debut year, defied expectations and secured another historic draw, this time against the giant Uruguay. At the same time, Spain demonstrated its strength by crushing Saudi Arabia, while Mohamed Salah shone and kept Egypt on track for the knockout stage. Day 11 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 brought surprises, confirmations, and left everything open in several groups.

In Spain, the European champions finally showed why they are one of the favorites: after a shaky start and a scandalous goalless draw against Cape Verde, Luis de la Fuente’s team burst onto the scene and crushed Saudi Arabia with a resounding 4-0 victory. Lamine Yamal returned to the starting eleven and wasted no time, opening the scoring in the 10th minute with a perfect cross from Mikel Oyarzabal. Oyarzabal himself, in a state of grace, quickly scored a second goal, effectively sealing the match before the half-hour mark. Spain’s absolute dominance was confirmed in the second half when Hassan Tambakti, unfortunately, put the ball into his own net. Spain did not falter, regained respect, and responded to critics who labeled them as the “disappointment” of the tournament.

While Spain returned to winning ways, Belgium once again disappointed and is on the brink of early elimination. Against Iran, the Belgian golden generation — featuring Courtois, De Bruyne, and Lukaku — could only manage a goalless draw. Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was the standout performer with a sensational save, and Belgium’s inability to score has left Group G wide open. Following a draw with Egypt in their opening match, Belgium now needs to defeat New Zealand to keep their qualification hopes alive, or risk another international failure.

But it was indeed Cape Verde who captured the hearts of fans and made history in this round. With just over half a million inhabitants, the African team once again proved that they did not come to this World Cup to be mere spectators. Following their epic draw against Spain, the Cape Verdeans faced Uruguay — two-time world champions — and were undaunted. Kevin Lenini, with a flawless execution of a direct free kick, scored Cape Verde’s first-ever goal in World Cup knockout stages, sending the stands into a frenzy. Uruguay responded and turned the game around before halftime, but Cape Verde never gave up. In the second half, Helio Varela, coming off the bench, capitalized on a remarkable error by Mathias Olivera to equalize and sparked wild celebrations among players, coaching staff, and fans.

At the end of the match, Helio Varela, visibly emotional, did not hide his pride in the achievement: “They told us we had no chance, but we always believed. We are making history for our people,” said the forward, recalling the journey of perseverance this team has taken. Coach Pedro Brito also spoke to the press, emphasizing: “What these boys are achieving is extraordinary. We have shown the world that Cape Verde can compete with the best.” The statements were made on the field, amidst the delirium and euphoria of the Cape Verdean supporters.

For Cape Verde, this result now opens up an unthinkable scenario from the outset: with two draws against elite opponents, the newcomers are just a small step away from securing their historic presence in the knockout stage. The next match, against a theoretically more accessible team, could seal a historic qualification and further propel this group into the international spotlight. Spain, for its part, has regained confidence and is once again a contender to go far, while Belgium, mired in an identity crisis, is putting everything on the line in the final round to avoid another World Cup disaster.

The 2026 World Cup is heating up, and no one dares to underestimate Cape Verde, the tournament’s new sensation, which promises to continue writing golden pages in world football.

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