Argentina vs Cape Verde LIVE
Cristian Romero scored the winner in extra time as Argentina survived a massive scare to edge past Cape Verde and keep their World Cup campaign alive. Argentina led three times on the night and were twice pegged back Lionel Messi’s opener was cancelled out by Deroy Duarte, forcing extra-time, before Lisandro Martinez’s strike was also neutralised by Jovane Cabral’s wonder-goal.
But Romero’s towering header in the second half of extra time was enough to settle the score, and the reigning world champions Argentina live to fight another day. It is a heartbreaking result for the minnows Cape Verde, who exit the tournament having gone unbeaten in all four of their matches within 90 minutes. Their incredible campaign comes to an end with an all-time classic, where they were unfortunate not to come out on top against what theoretically was a vastly superior opponent.
Argentina will now face Egypt in the round of 16 after they beat Australia via a penalty shootout on Friday evening. Follow the action live below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, complete with expert insight and analysis.
Argentina vs Cape Verde latest news
- GOAL! Romero puts Argentina in front at the death
- GOAL! Cabral screamer equalises late on
- GOAL! Martinez finds goal in extra-time
- GOAL! Duarte pulls one back
- GOAL! Messi opens scoring with customary goal
FULL-TIME: Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:44 , Arthur Ferridge
That does it! Argentina survive - by the skin of their teeth. Cape Verde can hold their heads high.
That, folks, was an all-time classic. Make note of where you were when you watched this - someone will probably ask you in a few years’ time!
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:43 , Arthur Ferridge
It is an end-to-end finish. An Argentina attack breaks down and Cape Verde counter apace, but a long-range shot from Varela skids wide to neutralise the play.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:41 , Arthur Ferridge
There will be three added minutes in the second half of extra time...
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:40 , Arthur Ferridge
119mins: He was offside anyway, but that is a honking miss, given the circumstances.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:40 , Arthur Ferridge
119mins: OH NO! Livramento shoots over from inside the six-yard box!
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:39 , Arthur Ferridge
119mins: Remarkable goalkeeping! Martinez is quick off his line to clear away a dangerous chipped through-ball.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:37 , Arthur Ferridge
117mins: Players are dropping like flies now, mostly with cramp. This has been an intense match on a hot evening, so it is really no surprise.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:36 , Arthur Ferridge
116mins: Cabral shoots but Martinez tips it over! What a stop.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:36 , Arthur Ferridge
116mins: This could be the moment. Cape Verde have a free-kick high on the right flank.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:33 , Arthur Ferridge
Now then. Do Cape Verde have one last equaliser in them?
GOAL! Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde | Romero '111
01:31 , Arthur Ferridge
ARGENTINA LEAD AT THE DEATH! Cristian Romero wheels away in celebration!
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:31 , Arthur Ferridge
111mins: Nico Gonzalez makes a superb jinking run through the Cape Verde defence but just takes one touch too many en route to goal and is dispossessed.
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:30 , Arthur Ferridge
110mins: Worth noting that both teams are out of subs.
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:29 , Arthur Ferridge
108mins: Semedo has a go from distance but pulls his shot wide.
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:27 , Arthur Ferridge
107mins: There is probably no better culmination for the Vozinha fairytale than a penalty shootout against Argentina, right?
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:26 , Arthur Ferridge
The second half of extra time is underway.
Lionel Messi looks knackered.
What on earth does the next 15 minutes have in store?
HT/ET: Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:24 , Arthur Ferridge
Another quarter of an hour for one side or other to win this. It can’t go to penalties... can it?
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:23 , Arthur Ferridge
105+3mins: That equaliser from Cabral just defies all logic. It is perfect in every way. One of the all-time great World Cup goals.
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:21 , Arthur Ferridge
105+2mins: VOZINHA! He gets down quickly to deny Messi with his eighth save of the match! UNBELIEVABLE!
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:20 , Arthur Ferridge
There was not a thing Emi Martinez could have done to stop that from Cabral. It curled perfectly out of his reach and nestled in the top corner. This is unbelievable!
GOAL! Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde | Cabral '103
01:18 , Arthur Ferridge
CAPE VERDE ARE BACK LEVEL! CABRAL WITH AN ABSOLUTE SCREAMER! HE’S TAKEN THE ROOF OFF!
Argentina 2-1 Cape Verde
01:15 , Arthur Ferridge
101mins: It has been one-way traffic here since the goal, but Argentina are just lacking that final pass or clinical shot they require to kill this off.
Argentina 2-1 Cape Verde
01:13 , Arthur Ferridge
98mins: Messi sees a pair of shots blocked as Argentina look to put this result beyond doubt.
Argentina 2-1 Cape Verde
01:11 , Arthur Ferridge
97mins: Chaos here as Argentina try and fail to get the ball clear from two consecutive corners. Cape Verde have a third.
Argentina 2-1 Cape Verde
01:09 , Arthur Ferridge
95mins: You can just see Messi telling his team-mates something along the lines of: “This does not slip now.” Or whatever the equivalent happens to be in Spanish.
GOAL! Argentina 2-1 Cape Verde | Martinez '93
01:07 , Arthur Ferridge
Well, that didn’t take long! Argentina’s first attack of extra time yields a corner, which falls fro Lisandro Martinez to rifle home at the back post.
EXTRA TIME: Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
01:04 , Arthur Ferridge
The additional half-hour is underway!
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
01:00 , Arthur Ferridge
To be fair to Cape Verde, the commitment to the bit is pretty impressive. Four matches, four draws.
Let’s see what this period of extra time holds...
END OF 90 MINUTES: Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:59 , Arthur Ferridge
No real sense of urgency from Argentina as the final seconds wind down, and we will go to extra time!
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:57 , Arthur Ferridge
90+7mins: Cape Verde’s turn to take a free-kick now, and it is pretty poor. Extra time looking likely now.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:56 , Arthur Ferridge
90+5mins: Messi’s free-kick takes a deflection but... VOZINHA SAVES!
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:54 , Arthur Ferridge
90+3mins: There has been a foul on the edge of the Cape Verde box, and Messi has another chance to win this with a free-kick.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:53 , Arthur Ferridge
90+2mins: Paredes lashes a shot at the Cape Verde goal from about 30 yards and Vozinha makes a straightforward parry.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:51 , Arthur Ferridge
There will be eight added minutes!
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:50 , Arthur Ferridge
90mins: Checked and cleared! No penalty.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:50 , Arthur Ferridge
89mins: A super cross from Messi to Mac Allister, but Cape Verde clear their lines.
VAR are checking a handball... and Argentina might have a case!
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:49 , Arthur Ferridge
88mins: Every man behind the ball for Cape Verde now.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:48 , Arthur Ferridge
87mins: Mac Allister shoots over via a deflection. Corner to Argentina.
Currently thinking about that witch doctor who said Cape Verde would win today. Maybe he was onto something? Just a thought.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:46 , Arthur Ferridge
85mins: Argentina are really drinking in the last chance saloon now. Just five minutes of normal time left to nick this.
Medina comes off for Tagliafico. Can he be the man to turn this around?
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:44 , Arthur Ferridge
83mins: Another ropey Cape Verde clearance as Nico Gonzalez’s cross is turned behind. That could have gone anywhere!
The following corner goes begging.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:42 , Arthur Ferridge
81mins: A huge sigh of relief from Lopez. He slides in to block an Argentina cross and very nearly turns it into his own net, but gets away with it.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:40 , Arthur Ferridge
80mins: Cape Verde ring in the last ten minutes with two more changes.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:40 , Arthur Ferridge
79mins: Kevin, who is already on a booking, catches Fernandez late and gets a stern talking to. He is on the thinnest of ice now.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:38 , Arthur Ferridge
78mins: Lionel Scaloni looks, in a word, stressed.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:38 , Arthur Ferridge
That save took us into the hydration break, but we are back underway now.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:33 , Arthur Ferridge
73mins: VOZINHA AGAIN! Messi takes his free-kick quickly, but Vozinha is equal to it! What a stop.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:32 , Arthur Ferridge
71mins: And only a couple minutes later, Messi will get a second chance. He is brought down again, this time right on the edge of the box. He will surely have another crack at this free kick.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:29 , Arthur Ferridge
69mins: Messi shoots into the wall.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:29 , Arthur Ferridge
69mins: Pina grabs Messi by the scruff of the neck and drags him to the ground. He is booked for his troubles and Argentina have a free-kick dead centre, about 35 yards out.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:27 , Arthur Ferridge
67mins: Gonzalez knocks a long-ball down for Enzo Fernandez, who attempts a leaping scissor-kick but misses the mark.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:24 , Arthur Ferridge
64mins: Two changes for Argentina as Almada and Lautaro Martinez go off for Gonzalez and Alvarez.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:23 , Arthur Ferridge
63mins: COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH VOZINHA! Messi goes through on goal but the Cape Verde shot-stopper makes himself big and comes up trumps!
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:22 , Arthur Ferridge
60mins: Well, well, well. Where on Earth do we go from here?
Scaloni will play his hand with a double substitution in a few moments.
GOAL! Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde | Duarte '59
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:20 , Arthur Ferridge
CAPE VERDE ARE LEVEL! Who saw that coming? I certainly didn’t! The reigning champions are pegged back!
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:17 , Arthur Ferridge
56mins: Pretty chaotic defending from Cape Verde as De Paul is dispossessed in the box and the Blue Sharks just cannot clear their lines! Vozinha just about gets it away under heavy pressure from Messi.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:14 , Arthur Ferridge
54mins: SAVE! Cape Verde come close to an equaliser as Martinez gets fingertips to Duarte’s long-range shot.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:13 , Arthur Ferridge
52mins: Lautaro can’t quite get Messi’s cross-field ball under control. He’s have been in one-on-one if he were able to bring it down.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:09 , Arthur Ferridge
49mins: Cape Verde are handed the first corner of the game so far, believe it or not. It comes out to Cabral at the edge of the box, and his effort is deflected over.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:08 , Arthur Ferridge
46mins: If you’re Argentina here, I think you want to put this game to bed sooner rather than later. A goal or two by the hour mark, cushty.
Cape Verde, meanwhile, have a trickier task. They need to get a goal past this imposing defence. They are the masters of draws at this tournament, having tied all three of their group stage matches. Let’s see if they have one more in them.
2ND HALF: Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:05 , Arthur Ferridge
We’re back underway!
HALF-TIME: Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:49 , Arthur Ferridge
There’s the break! Lionel Messi’s 20th World Cup goal is the only difference at the break.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:47 , Arthur Ferridge
We are into four minutes of added time.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:46 , Arthur Ferridge
45mins: Another smart save from Vozinha, this time to deny Enzo Fernandez’s shot from just outside the box.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:43 , Arthur Ferridge
42mins: The ball bobbles back to Vozinha and he takes his time picking it up under pressure from Lautaro, who seems to catch the ‘keeper in the press. He goes down like a sack of potatoes but should be fine to carry on.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:40 , Arthur Ferridge
38mins: A rare attack for Cape Verde as Mendes finds himself in space on the right. His cross, however, is wayward.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:34 , Arthur Ferridge
33mins: Almada looks to worm his way through the Cape Verde defence but his one-two doesn’t come off.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:32 , Arthur Ferridge
32mins: Well, let’s see if that will open the floodgates or if Cape Verde will continue to hold firm.
GOAL! Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde | Messi '29
Friday 3 July 2026 23:29 , Arthur Ferridge
MESSI OPENS THE SCORING WITH A MOMENT OF MAGIC! He latches onto a long ball in the box, brings it down and finishes into the roof of the net.
Friday 3 July 2026 23:27 , Arthur Ferridge
Argentina have generated an xG of just 0.11 so far in this game.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:25 , Arthur Ferridge
That takes us to the first hydration break of the evening, and thus far Argentina are going frustrated. Positive start from the Cape Verdeans.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:22 , Arthur Ferridge
22mins: Another little Cruyff turn from Vozinha, this time beating Lautaro Martinez’s press.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:18 , Arthur Ferridge
18mins: Messi shoots from the free-kick but Vozinha makes a routine stop.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:17 , Arthur Ferridge
17mins: A clumsy tackle gifts Argentina a free kick just left of centre, about 30 yards from goal.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:15 , Arthur Ferridge
15mins: Messi looses the first shot of the day from a tight angle and misses narrowly wide.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:12 , Arthur Ferridge
12mins: A notice has flashed up on screen here saying there are ‘isolated thunderstorms’ in the vicinity of the stadium. Still no delay confirmed, but I will say again, it does not seem unlikely.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:09 , Arthur Ferridge
9mins: Cabral races forward down the left flank but is closed down by no less than four Argentina players and is dispossessed.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:07 , Arthur Ferridge
7mins: A round of ‘Oles’ go up from the crowd as Vozinha beats Enzo Fernandez with a Cruyff turn.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:05 , Arthur Ferridge
5mins: A first foray forward for Cape Verde as Cabral whips a cross into the box, but Lisandro Martinez gets the first touch to it and clears.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:03 , Arthur Ferridge
3mins: Da Costa gets a foot to De Paul’s pass and bears down on Martinez, but he coolly recycles the ball under pressure.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:02 , Arthur Ferridge
2mins: An early scare for Cape Verde as Pina gives the ball to Enzo Fernandez in midfield and Argentina break, but the attack comes to nothing.
KICK-OFF! Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:00 , Arthur Ferridge
We are UNDERWAY in Miami!
Friday 3 July 2026 22:56 , Arthur Ferridge
That’s the anthems done and dusted. Kick-off coming up next!
Friday 3 July 2026 22:52 , Arthur Ferridge
Well, seems that storm is a non-issue. The players are heading out for the anthems!
Team news reminder
Friday 3 July 2026 22:45 , Arthur Ferridge
With 15 minutes left to kick-off, here’s a reminder of today’s XIs.
Argentina XI: E. Martinez; Lisandro Martinez, Romero, Medina, Molina, Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Messi, Almada, Lautaro Martinez
Cape Verde XI: Vozinha; Borges, Lopes, S. Cabral, Moreira, K. Pina, J. Cabral, D. Duarte, L. Duarte, N. Costa, Mendes
Weather latest
Friday 3 July 2026 22:44 , Arthur Ferridge
As things stand, this match will go ahead as scheduled despite lightning being spotted from the terraces.
Cape Verde go high tech
Friday 3 July 2026 22:40 , Arthur Ferridge
Cape Verde star Roberto Lopes has been using virtual reality technology to help improve his game.
Lopes played a key role as the Blue Sharks reached the knockout stages of their first-ever World Cup.
He has been using VR tools provided by football technology company Be Your Best to help improve his scanning abilities.
Arsenal star Martin Odegaard has been known to use similar tools.
Transfer market drama
Friday 3 July 2026 22:30 , Arthur Ferridge
Argentina’s World Cup camp was rocked by transfer drama today, surrounding Enzo Fernandez.
He has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid and has been posturing for it in media appearances, but Los Blancos today released a club statement saying they hold no interest in signing the Chelsea midfielder.
Weather delay pending
Friday 3 July 2026 22:30 , Arthur Ferridge
We could be in for a weather delay here...
Lightning has been spotted from the terraces at the Miami Stadium!
Of course, if lightning strikes within eight miles of the ground, we will be forced into a weather delay of at least 30 minutes.
As things stand, no delay has been confirmed. Watch this space...
Big lightning from the upper tiers of Miami stadium pic.twitter.com/zt2au6CPN7
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) July 3, 2026
Sclaoni: Argentina won't take anything for granted against Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 22:20 , Arthur Ferridge
"We're in a good moment, but now the margins are very small. This is a match where if you lose, you're out. We know that.
"They're a good team. We've already watched them, not just because we are playing against them, but because we were analysing potential opponents and then they qualified.
"We are not surprised, to be honest. They are a good team, and they are not here by chance. We must respect them and that's what we will do."
Atmosphere building
Friday 3 July 2026 22:16 , Arthur Ferridge
Cape Verde team news
Friday 3 July 2026 22:10 , Arthur Ferridge
Only one of Cape Verde’s goalscorers in this tournament so far starts today. Kevin Pina gets the nod as Helio Varela drops to the bench.
The now-legendary goalkeeper Vozinha also starts between the sticks.
Argentina team news
Friday 3 July 2026 22:01 , Arthur Ferridge
Lionel Scaloni is taking no chances tonight. He has named an extremely strong side.
A front three of Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, and Thiago Almada should have no great issue breaking down the stubborn Cape Verdean defence.
Cristian Romero shakes off a knee injury to start.
Egypt win the shootout!
Friday 3 July 2026 21:52 , Arthur Ferridge
Egypt beat Australia on penalties!
Australia missed two of their three spot-kicks. Both the missed penalties were taken by centre-backs. Do the math...
Egypt, though, have won a World Cup knockout match for the first time and will face the winner of Argentina vs Cape Verde in the last 16.
Around the grounds
Friday 3 July 2026 21:45 , Arthur Ferridge
As exciting as the Argentina an dCape Verde lineups are, there is higher drama elsewhere.
Australia and Egypt are engaged in a penalty shootout over in Texas, and Harry Souttar has just missed the first spot-kick!
Click here to follow the shootout live!
CAPE VERDE CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
Friday 3 July 2026 21:40 , Arthur Ferridge
Cape Verde XI: Vozinha; Borges, Lopes, S. Cabral, Moreira, K. Pina, J. Cabral, D. Duarte, L. Duarte, N. Costa, Mendes
Subs: Rosa, Santos, Stopira, L. Costa, W. Pina, Pires, Paulo, Monteiro, Rodrigues, Y. Semedo, W. Semedo, Arcanjo, Varela, Benchimol, Livramento
ARGENTINA CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
Friday 3 July 2026 21:38 , Arthur Ferridge
Argentina XI: E. Martinez; Lisandro Martinez, Romero, Medina, Molina, Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Messi, Almada, Lautaro Martinez
Subs: Musso, Rulli, Senesi, Tagliafico, Montiel, Otamendi, Paredes, Barco, Lo Celso, Palacios, Gonzalez, Alvarez, Simeone, Paz, Lopez
Standard Sport prediction
Friday 3 July 2026 21:30 , Arthur Ferridge
Cape Verde enjoyed a hugely impressive group stage, holding some heavyweight opposition to gutsy draws.
Fourth time will not be the charm, though. We think they have ridden their luck too far. Argentina should get the job done in relatively short order.
Argentina to win, 4-0.
Cape Verde early team news
Friday 3 July 2026 21:25 , Arthur Ferridge
Cape Verde have a singular injury in the squad, with Telmo Arcanjo set to miss out today as he nurses a hamstring injury.
Goalkeeper Vozinha has captured the hearts of football fans around the world this summer and should start between the sticks.
Argentina early team news
Friday 3 July 2026 21:15 , Arthur Ferridge
Argentina are not thought to have any new injuries coming into this match.
It remains to be seen how strong a side Lionel Scaloni will name against lesser opposition, but he may still go strong so as to avoid any prospect of a humiliating upset.
How to watch
Friday 3 July 2026 21:05 , Arthur Ferridge
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on ITV1, with coverage starting at 10.15pm ahead of an 11pm kick-off.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live online via ITVX.
Click here to read the full blog on The The Standard's website
