How Cape Verde took on Spain and shocked the world

Published 16 June 2026 · europe

Debutants Cape Verde produced one of the biggest 2026 World Cup shocks of recent times by holding Spain to a goalless draw in Atlanta. The

Debutants Cape Verde produced one of the biggest 2026 World Cup shocks of recent times by holding Spain to a goalless draw in Atlanta. The third-smallest country in terms of population to qualify for a World Cup, Cape Verde were 67th in Fifa's latest rankings and many expected them to be swept aside by second-ranked Spain in their opening Group H contest.

But what does their recent success mean for the small island off the coast of West Africa? 00:00 - Intro 00:38 - The nation that shocked the world 01:23 - Quickfire questions about Cape Verde 02:15 - How did they shock Spain?

03:39 - The tactics behind the upset 06:08 - What could this mean for Cape Verde? Subscribe here For more news, analysis and features, visit:

www.bbc.com/news

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