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World Cup Shock: Cape Verde Hold Spain, $1M Bet Goes Up in Smoke
The World Cup witnessed one of its biggest upsets as Cape Verde, making their tournament debut, held European champions Spain to a 0-0 draw in Atlanta.
The first round of Group G matches ended with all four teams level on one point, after Maxi Araujo's late goal secured Uruguay a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia. Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to equalize for Belgium against Egypt, while Iran twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with New Zealand.
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The Athletic provides daily recaps of the World Cup's biggest talking points. Here's what happened on Matchday 5...
Matchday 5 results:
Group H: Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
Group G: Belgium 1-1 Egypt
Group H: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay
Group G: Iran 2-2 New Zealand
This game makes fools of us all. Is that why we love it?
The anonymous Polymarket speculator likely thought they were securing an easy $85,000 profit when they placed $1 million on Spain to beat Cape Verde. After all, the result seemed inevitable: tiny Cape Verde, ranked 64th in the world and playing in its first World Cup, was expected to be no match for Spain.
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But Cape Verde delivered a magnificent performance, combining mental fortitude, a solid tactical plan, and a refusal to panic under relentless Spanish pressure. Goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, was the hero, breaking down in tears after the match. He later explained his emotions stemmed from the loss of his grandparents, who raised him, and his mother's inability to attend due to the high cost of a visa from Cape Verde.
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Man of the match against Spain, this was a crowning moment for a goalkeeper who already holds legendary status back home
Even with Spain's decision to leave Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams on the bench initially, the result defied expectations. As has been noted, despite the controversies surrounding this World Cup, the games themselves continue to surprise. Football has a way of humbling even the most confident predictions.
What’s the problem with the South American teams?
Uruguay pushed for a winner against Saudi Arabia but had to settle for a 1-1 draw, continuing a troubling trend for South American sides. Brazil drew with Morocco, Ecuador lost to Ivory Coast, and Paraguay was thoroughly beaten by the USA. None of the four South American teams have won a match or held a lead yet—their worst collective start since 1974.
Messi’s World Cup campaign begins Tuesday (Juan Mabromata/AFP via Getty Images)
It remains to be seen whether this is a sign of declining South American quality or a global leveling of the playing field. Argentina and Colombia have yet to play; Lionel Messi's Argentina faces Algeria on Tuesday, and a loss there would confirm a worrying pattern.
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Iran shouldn’t stand a chance at this World Cup, yet it still persists
Iran's preparation for the World Cup has been severely disrupted. The Persian Gulf Pro League was suspended in February due to the war, meaning 17 squad members—including six starters against New Zealand—had not played competitive football for four months. Additionally, the team faced stress from playing in a country at war with their own, a forced relocation of their training base to Mexico, and visa denials for several backroom staff. Despite these challenges, Iran managed a 2-2 draw against New Zealand, showing remarkable resilience.