Uruguay suffered a shock group-stage exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after losing 1-0 to Spain, while tournament debutants Cape Verde secured a historic place in the Round of 32 with a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia.
The dramatic final round of Group H fixtures saw Spain finish top of the table with seven points. Cape Verde advanced as runners-up with three draws, edging past Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, who both finished with two points.
Cape Verde script a fairytale
Cape Verde continued their dream World Cup campaign with another disciplined defensive performance against Saudi Arabia in Houston. Although neither side found the net, Cape Verde looked the more threatening team throughout the contest.
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Laros Duarte came closest to scoring when he was denied by Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais in a one-on-one chance. Willy Semedo also tested the Saudi defence, while veteran goalkeeper Vozinha made crucial saves to preserve a clean sheet.
Cape Verde celebrate history. 🇨🇻
— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) June 27, 2026
Fans and players together after sealing a historic knockout qualification on their World Cup debut.
Pure emotion. ❤️#WorldCupwithMicky#CapeVerde pic.twitter.com/lHSmGwh9eC
The draw was enough to send the African nation into the knockout stage in their first-ever World Cup appearance. They will now face defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32.
Spain end Uruguay’s campaign
In Guadalajara, Spain sealed top spot in Group H with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Uruguay. The decisive moment came before half-time when Alex Baena capitalised on a mistake from veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to score the only goal of the match.
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Uruguay pushed for an equaliser after the break but struggled to create clear opportunities against a well-organised Spanish defence. Their frustrations were summed up in stoppage time when Agustin Canobbio was sent off for a reckless challenge.
The defeat ended a disappointing tournament for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, who failed to win a single group-stage match after drawing with Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde before losing to Spain. Meanwhile, Cape Verde completed one of the biggest surprises of the tournament by reaching the knockout stage on their World Cup debut, capping a remarkable journey with a place among the final 32 teams.
