World Cup roundup: Cabo Verde stun Spain on day of draws

Cabo Verde claimed the first World Cup point in its history by holding Spain to a draw on Monday, while Saudi Arabia, Egypt and New Zealand also took points from more fancied opponents.

Making its World Cup debut, Cabo Verde produced a resolute defensive performance to hold the European champion to a goalless draw in Atlanta.

Ferran Torres (C) of Spain competes during the group H match between Spain and Cape Verde at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, the United States, June 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Kaiyan)

Spain had almost 75 percent possession and 27 shots on goal but could find no way past 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha.

"This means everything for our country," Cabo Verde head coach Bubista said.

"We have always said that we wanted everybody to see our country, our team and we have shown organization and braveness and this is proof of what our country is about - resilience and to try to overcome hardships."

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente rued his team's inability to break down the African side's defense.

"We should have won today's match with everything that happened, with all the favorable situations we created, but we lacked freshness and a clinical edge," he said.

In Miami, Maximiliano Araujo scored late to earn Uruguay a 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia.

Abdulelah Alamri opened the scoring with a tap-in just before halftime, but Uruguay equalized when goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais kept out Federico Vinas' header, only for Araujo to fire in the rebound.

"We can say in the first half we had good control over the play and we had opportunities to score without being very decisive," Saudi Arabia head coach Georgios Donis said.

"In the second half we didn't have the same intensity and our opponent was able to go deeper into our half."

Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa admitted his team was below its best despite controlling almost two thirds of possession and having 10 shots on target.

"In the first half the team looked flat, without intensity, without pressure, without forcing mistakes and without incisiveness," the Argentine said.

"It would be easy to say that we deserved to win in the second half but a match is made up of 90 minutes."

In Seattle, an own goal from Mohamed Hany gifted Belgium a 1-1 draw against Egypt. Emam Ashour gave Egypt an early lead with a long-range drive before Hany turned the ball into his own net just after the hour following a menacing run from Romelu Lukaku.

"We are definitely not here just to make up the numbers. The win was in our hands today," Egypt manager Hossam Hassan said.

Belgium boss Rudi Garcia declined to criticize his players, instead giving credit to Egypt.

"We faced one of the best teams in Africa," he said. "They scored from their first shot. It is very difficult to come from behind against a team like that."

In Los Angeles, Mohammad Mohebbi scored in the second half to earn Iran a 2-2 draw with New Zealand.

Elijah Just scored either side of Ramin Rezaeian's 32nd-minute strike before Mohebbi equalized with a 64th-minute header.