2026 World Cup : a day without a winner, with Groups G and H blown wide open
The second full day of the 2026 World Cup produced a rare kind of drama. All four matches on Monday finished level, leaving Groups G and H completely even after the opening round.
From Seattle to Los Angeles, via Atlanta, nobody managed to take a real step toward qualification for the knockout stage. Some threw away what looked like a winning position. Others were just relieved to escape with something.
Cape Verde hold Spain and make history
One of the night’s standout moments came in Atlanta. In their first-ever World Cup appearance, Cape Verde picked up the first point in their history by holding Spain to a 0-0 draw.
Spain dominated possession, with Luis de la Fuente’s side spending long spells probing around the Cape Verde block without finding a way through. Ferran Torres hit the crossbar before half-time and Vozinha made a string of key saves to keep the score blank. Lamine Yamal came on for the final 15 minutes and gave Spain more pace, but the Blue Sharks hung on to the end. They even thought they had snatched something even bigger in stoppage time, only for Unai Simon to deny Diney Borges.
Egypt push Belgium all the way
In Seattle, the Pharaohs came within touching distance of a statement win against Belgium. Egypt, who have never won a match at a World Cup, were sharper and far more aggressive in the duels, and Hossam Hassan’s side caused the Red Devils all sorts of problems. Eman Ashour capped a superb first half by opening the scoring shortly before the half-hour mark. Without a handful of important Thibaut Courtois saves, Belgium could have gone in further behind.
Romelu Lukaku’s arrival after the hour changed the game. Seconds after he came on, Belgium’s pressure forced an own goal from Ashour, bringing Rudi Garcia’s side level. Despite chances at both ends, neither team could land the decisive blow in a frantic finish to a 1-1 draw.
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Uruguay avoid an upset against Saudi Arabia
Uruguay also had to come from behind. Flat before the break, La Celeste were stunned just before half-time by Abdulelah Al Amri. After the restart, the South Americans stepped things up sharply. Manuel Ugarte hit the post and chances started to pile up in front of the Saudi goal.
The equaliser finally arrived 10 minutes from time through Maximiliano Araujo, who pounced on a poor clearance to drag the two sides level. With that result, every team in Group H has a point after matchday one.
Iran and New Zealand go punch for punch
In the other Group G match, Iran and New Zealand served up an entertaining contest at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. On two occasions, the Kiwis led through Elijah Just, who struck twice. But each time, Team Melli found the response they needed to get back on terms.
Ramin Rezaeian and then Mohammad Mohebi kept Iran alive in a wide-open game, with both sides creating chances to win it. In the end, nobody could force a breakthrough and Group G has also been thrown wide open after the opening round.
Eight teams, eight points: no gap after matchday one
Groups G and H have delivered pretty much the ideal set-up for the rest of the tournament. All eight sides have one point apiece, and no separation has yet emerged in the standings. A rare balance, and one that should make matchday two very important indeed.
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