The fifth day of the 2026 World Cup brought a wave of unexpected draws that shook up predictions: Spain failed to overcome Cape Verde, Uruguay settled for a tie against Saudi Arabia, and Group G ended with all four teams level at one point each.
Widely seen as a top contender for the trophy, Spain couldn't get past Cape Verde, settling for a 0-0 stalemate at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The Spanish team, known as La Roja, dominated possession with 74% and unleashed 25 shots on goal, yet they couldn't break through the defense of the African squad playing its first-ever World Cup match.
Head coach Luis de la Fuente brought in Barcelona's young star Lamine Yamal in the 70th minute, as he had just recovered from an injury sustained in May. However, his 20-25 minutes on the field weren't enough to change the outcome, raising concerns about the performance of the reigning European champions.
For Cape Verde, the draw felt like a monumental achievement: they secured their first World Cup point in history and kept their hopes alive for advancing to the knockout stages.
Uruguay's Struggles in Group H
Uruguay, under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa, also fell short of expectations with a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium.
Abdulelah Al-Amri took advantage of a rebound from goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to open the scoring in the 41st minute. Maximiliano Araújo leveled for the Celeste in the 80th minute, but despite creating several dangerous chances, Uruguay could not complete the comeback.
Following the first round, the four teams in Group H—Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay—each have one point, highlighting one of the tournament's most balanced groups.
Group G's Deadlock
In Group G, Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1 at Seattle's Lumen Field in a clash of the top favorites in the group.
Emam Ashour put Egypt ahead in the 19th minute, while an own goal by Mohamed Hany in the 66th minute—under pressure from Romelu Lukaku—evened the score.
The Belgian team extended their unbeaten streak to 13 consecutive matches but missed the chance to start with a win.
Iran and New Zealand wrapped up the day with Group G's most thrilling match, ending in a 2-2 draw at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium. Elijah Just scored twice for New Zealand (in the 7th and 54th minutes), while Ramin Rezaeian (32') and Mohammad Mohebi (64') responded for Iran.
New Zealand took the lead twice but failed to maintain it on both occasions.
As a result, Group G is completely level, with Belgium, Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand each holding one point, ensuring a fierce battle for the spots in the Round of 16 in the upcoming matches.
Key Questions About World Cup Group Stages
What challenges did Spain face against Cape Verde?
Spain struggled to break through Cape Verde's defensive setup, managing 25 shots but failing to score, despite dominating possession.
How did Uruguay perform in their match against Saudi Arabia?
Uruguay drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia, with Maximiliano Araújo scoring the equalizer after Abdulelah Al-Amri had put Saudi Arabia ahead.
What was the outcome of the Belgium vs Egypt match?
Belgium and Egypt finished their match with a 1-1 draw, with goals from Emam Ashour and an own goal by Mohamed Hany.
What were the highlights of the Iran vs New Zealand game?
The game ended in a 2-2 draw, with Elijah Just scoring twice for New Zealand and Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi scoring for Iran.