On Sunday, June 21, 2026, two of the FIFA World Cup‘s most compelling underdog stories continued as Cape Verde and Iran earned results that kept their knockout-stage hopes alive. While favorites Spain and Egypt strengthened their positions, neither Cape Verde nor Iran gave ground in the battle for qualification.
Cape Verde produced another resilient performance in Group H, drawing 2–2 with Uruguay. The island nation had already held Spain to a 0–0 draw earlier in the tournament and again demonstrated its fighting spirit against a traditional football power. “We never stopped believing,” a Cape Verde player said after the match. “Every point matters when you’re trying to make history.”
Earlier on Sunday, Spain moved to the top of Group H with a 4–0 victory over Saudi Arabia. Spain now leads the group with four points, while Uruguay and Cape Verde are level on two points each. The final round of group matches on Friday, June 26, will determine which teams advance.
In Group G, Iran frustrated Belgium in a scoreless draw. Having previously tied 2–2 with New Zealand, Iran remains unbeaten after two matches. “The players showed discipline and character,” Iran’s coaching staff said after the game. “We know the job isn’t finished, but we’re still in control of our destiny.”
The group’s other match saw Egypt defeat New Zealand 3–1 on Sunday night. Egypt moved to four points and took over first place, while Iran and Belgium are tied on two points. New Zealand remains on one point heading into the final matchday.
Attention now turns to Monday, June 22, when the World Cup schedule features Argentina against Austria, France versus Iraq, Norway against Senegal, and Jordan versus Algeria. These fixtures will shape the standings in Groups I and J as the tournament approaches the decisive final round of group-stage matches.
For now, however, the spotlight remains on Cape Verde and Iran. Against more established opponents and despite modest expectations, both nations have reached the halfway point of the group stage unbeaten. As one observer noted on Sunday, “The World Cup always produces surprises, but few expected Cape Verde and Iran to still be standing this strong after two matches.”
