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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Alex Young

World Cup 2026 highlights and what you missed overnight as minnows Cape Verde reach knockout stage

Cape Verde have become the smallest country in history to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup after drawing 0-0 against Saudi Arabia.

Three draws from their three group games saw the minnows finish second in Group H behind Spain and above Uruguay.

Both teams struggled to create opportunities as Cape Verde claimed a vital point to make history.

Cape Verde will play Argentina in Miami on July 3.

At the same time, Spain beat Uruguay 1-0 to top Group H.

A fiery encounter in Guadalajara saw Uruguay desperate to avoid a second-straight group-stage exit, but Spain were much the most comfortable team throughout.

Shortly before half-time, Alex Baena guided the ball into the bottom corner despite the best efforts of Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to keep it out.

Uruguay lost Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte to injury shortly afterwards. He was stretchered off after colliding with one of his team-mates.

A chaotic final few minutes saw multiple yellow cards handed out as the Uruguayan players did everything they could to find an equaliser.

Midfielder Agustin Canobbio was shown a straight red at the start of added time as Uruguay were knocked out.

Romelu Lukaku’s late header secured top spot in Group G as Belgium cruised into the last 32 of the World Cup with a 5–1 win over New Zealand in Vancouver.

The Red Devils dominated from the outset, with Leandro Trossard scoring twice and Kevin De Bruyn adding a goal of his own.

Belgium are due to face a third-placed group team in Seattle on Wednesday, while New Zealand will head home without a World Cup win.

Shojae Khalilzadeh’s stoppage-time winner was overruled for offside as Iran were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Egypt.

The game was a tug-of-war affair, with Iran getting increasingly desperate as Belgium’s win over New Zealand put pressure on them to get a win and improve the odds of their progression to the round of 32.

And it looked like they had pulled off a miracle when a stoppage-time free kick led to a Khalilzadeh goal.

However, a lengthy VAR review ruled he was offside by the smallest of margins and Iran were unable to replicate the feat before full-time.

The result sees Egypt progress to a clash with Australia, while Iran have a nervy wait to see if the remaining group stage results fall in their favour.

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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