Spain held to 0-0 draw by debutants Cabo Verde at 2026 World Cup

At the opening match of Group H in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Spain entered as favourites with bookmakers offering odds of 5.5 to win the tournament. They faced debutants Cabo Verde on 15 June and the game concluded in a 0‑0 draw, an unexpected result given Spain’s star‑laden squad.

The group‑stage stalemate was partly attributed to defender Roberto Lopes, who qualified for Cabo Verde through his father’s heritage. Lopes, originally an Irish‑born mortgage adviser, was recruited after a LinkedIn message from coach Rui Águas and went on to feature in the match, helping the tiny nation earn its first World Cup point.