Spain held by Cabo Verde as Uruguay and Belgium stumble in World Cup 2026

Group H’s opening days delivered an early recalibration of the World Cup order. Cabo Verde, making its debut on football’s biggest stage and backed by a population of just over 500,000, held Spain to a 0-0 draw at Atlanta Stadium, while Uruguay were forced to settle for 1-1 with Saudi Arabia in Miami Stadium and Belgium were also pushed to a 1-1 draw by Egypt in Seattle Stadium. The results did more than flatten the scoreboard. They exposed how quickly pre-tournament assumptions can fray once the matches begin.

Spain’s draw with Cabo Verde was the most revealing of the three. Ferran Torres struck the crossbar in the first half, but Cabo Verde’s defense stayed compact and organized throughout, keeping the European champions from turning pressure into goals. FIFA framed the result as a major moment for a debutant side, and the scoreline showed why: Spain had control without a breakthrough, and Cabo Verde left Atlanta with a point that may carry more weight than any reputation in the group.

Uruguay, by contrast, looked closer to trouble. Abdulelah Al-Amri put Saudi Arabia ahead in the 41st minute, and Maxi Araújo did not equalize until the 80th, after Uruguay had already spent much of the match chasing the game. FIFA noted that the Celeste created chances late, but Mohammed Al-Owais kept Saudi Arabia level. For a side expected to challenge Spain for the top of Group H, dropping points in that position puts immediate pressure on what comes next, especially with Spain still on the schedule in Guadalajara.

Belgium’s 1-1 draw with Egypt carried a different warning. Emam Ashour scored in the 19th minute and Mohamed Hany’s own goal brought Belgium level in the 66th, but the broader context made the result more striking. Before that match, Egypt had led for only 29 minutes across its entire World Cup history, had never won a World Cup match and had kept only one clean sheet in the tournament. Belgium needed an own goal to escape, a sign that its margin for error may be thinner than expected.

Taken together, the opening results suggest that Spain’s underlying position still looks the most durable. Cabo Verde’s discipline explained the stalemate, but Uruguay had to claw back from behind and Belgium relied on a lucky break. Spain still leads the group narrative, but after these first results, that lead looks earned rather than assumed.