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World Cup Sunday takeaways: Spain shows up, Cape Verde shows out

Spain's Lamine Yamal. Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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World Cup 2026 Sunday takeaways: Spain shows up, Cape Verde shows out

By Alyssa Clang | Last updated Jun 21, 2026 11:26 PM ET

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup continued on Sunday with a full slate of games from groups G and H.

Here are the top stories from Sunday's action:

Spain finally showed up in style

Spain tends to be slow off the blocks in big international tournaments, but what it lacks in get-up-and-go it more than makes up for in longevity. The 2024 European Championship side bounced back from its 0-0 draw with Cabo Verde on Matchday 1 to pick up a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Matchday 2.

Teenage phenom Lamine Yamal was the main difference maker for Spain, but oft-maligned striker Mikel Oyarzabal played a blinder, too. The Real Sociedad man scored two goals in three minutes to seal Spain's victory, and he did it after failing to touch the ball once during Spain's opening 30 minutes against the Blue Sharks of Cabo Verde. It was an exceptional turnaround.

If Spain wins its group, it will likely face Jordan or Austria in the Round of 32. If it finishes second, it will face Lionel Messi's Argentina instead. These three points pushed Spain toward the former path and away from the latter, and that should set it up nicely for a deep tournament run.

Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia

Iran survived Belgium's battle

There have been several stellar goalkeeping performances in this tournament, from Eloy Room's 15 saves against Ecuador to Vozinha's lights-out performance for Cabo Verde, but no keeper has put in a more athletic shift than Iran's Alireza Beiranvand did against Belgium. The longtime team Melli veteran made seven saves against Belgium's famous attack, several of which were diving, outstretched numbers that look impossible no matter how many times they get replayed.

This was a chippy, intense match with considerably more shoves than goal attempts; Belgium even had defender Nathan Ngoy sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity in the second half. Iran managed to hang tough with Belgium throughout the chaos.

"We came into the World Cup under the worst possible conditions," said Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei in Farsi after the match. "And still we got a result against a great team and a great manager. We played a beautiful game."

Iran 0-0 Belgium

Cabo Verde continued its dream tournament run

When the tiny African nation of Cabo Verde drew 0-0 with Spain on Matchday 1, people celebrated the underdog victory. When it held two-time World Cup champion Uruguay to a 2-2 draw on Matchday 2, though, people stopped calling it an underdog and started calling it a genuine knockout-round threat.

"Once you're on the pitch, a lot of things become equal. As big as the opponent might be on the world stage, many national teams become equal," said Cabo Verde coach Bubista after his team's second straight draw.

He had a point. Uruguay, led by world-famous coach Marcelo Bielsa, didn't look like it was out of Cabo Verde's league at all. With two points to its name and a winnable clash against Saudi Arabia waiting on Matchday 3, Cabo Verde might not just be Uruguay's World Cup equal: it might turn into its better.

Uruguay 2-2 Cabo Verde

Finn Surman flew, but Egypt flew higher

Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman is just 22 years old, but he's already one of the finest center backs in Major League Soccer. The Kiwi player proved his global bona fides by scoring the opening goal in New Zealand's Group G clash with Egypt. Surman, unmarked in the Egyptian penalty box, rose above everyone to power home a superb header and get the Kiwis off to another dream World Cup start.

It wasn't to be, though. Egypt found its breakthrough equalizer in the 58th minute and refused to take its foot off the accelerator. Former Liverpool attacker Mo Salah opened his World Cup account to power the Pharaohs to victory—and place them in pole position to earn first place in Group G.

Egypt 3-1 New Zealand

Alyssa Clang

Alyssa is a Boston-born Californian with a passion for global sport. She can yell about misplaced soccer passes in five languages and rattle off the turns of Silverstone in her sleep. You can find her dormant Twitter account at @alyssaclang, but honestly, you’re probably better off finding her here

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