World Cup 2026: Spain 0-0 Cape Verde - key stats from debutants' incredible draw in Atlanta - BBC

World Cup debutants Cape Verde hold on for draw against Spain

Cape Verde stunned Spain by holding the reigning European champions to a goalless draw on their World Cup debut on Monday.

Ably supported by a superb defensive display from those in front of him, veteran goalkeeper Vozinha made several excellent saves to preserve a clean sheet and secure a point that few thought possible before kick-off.

Here are some of the key statistics from their memorable draw in Atlanta.

1. World Cup life begins at 40 for Vozinha

'He's the story' - Vozinha's goalkeeping heroics thwart Spain

Vozinha, who plays his club football in Portugal's second tier for Chaves, turned 40 on 3 June and is the second-oldest man to make his World Cup debut.

Essam El-Hadary - also a goalkeeper - was 45 years and 161 days old when he made his first appearance at the 2018 tournament for Egypt.

Spain had 27 attempts during the match and Vozinha made seven saves.

Since 1966, the only goalkeeper aged 40 or older to make more stops in a World Cup fixture is Northern Ireland's Pat Jennings, who made 10 saves against Brazil in 1986 - on his 41st birthday.

2. Just one foul committed

An incredibly disciplined performance by Cape Verde was exemplified by the fact they were penalised for only one foul - the fewest by a team in a World Cup match on record since 1966.

That foul, committed by Sidny Lopes Cabral in the first half, was punished with a yellow card.

The 40-year-old keeper who inspired Cape Verde's historic debut

'Greatest feeling ever': Cape Verdeans tell BBC of joy at holding Spain to draw

3. No touches for Oyarzabal in 30 minutes

Striker Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored Spain's winning goal in the Euro 2024 final against England, did not touch the ball in the first 30 minutes against Cape Verde.

Statisticians Opta do not have another example of this happening in a World Cup match since 1966.

4. Rankings mean nothing

Spain and Cape Verde are separated by 65 places in Fifa's world rankings.

That is the biggest ever gap in a World Cup game that did not end in the higher-ranked side winning.

5. Endless passes but no end product

Spain have not scored a goal at the World Cup since Alvaro Morata's 11th-minute header against Japan in their final group match in Qatar.

Since then, Spain have had 49 shots and completed 2,500 passes without finding the net.

That game against Japan was followed by a 0-0 draw in their last-16 match against Morocco - which they eventually lost on penalties - and another stalemate against Cape Verde to start their 2026 campaign.

World Cup debutants Cape Verde earn stunning draw against Spain

6. Spain's poor start haunts them again

Spain have form for making poor starts to World Cups.

They have only won their first match in three of their past 15 appearances, drawing five and losing seven.

One of those seven defeats, however, came in 2010 - when they went on to lift the trophy for the first time.

It has been a lean period for the country at World Cups since then, though.

A group-stage exit in 2014 was followed by successive losses in the last 16 in 2018 and 2022.

They have played 12 matches since beating the Netherlands in the 2010 final but have only won three times.

'Incredible! - Emotional scenes as Cape Verde draw with Spain

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