The fifth day of the 2026 World Cup delivered the tournament’s first seismic shock and a pair of anxious draws for established powers, upending expectations across Groups G and H. In Atlanta, Spain – reigning European champions and one of the pre-tournament favourites – were held to a 0-0 stalemate by World Cup debutants Cape Verde, a volcanic archipelago of barely half a million people. Luis de la Fuente’s side enjoyed 74 per cent possession and unleashed 27 shots, yet found no way past a 40-year-old goalkeeper named Josimar Dias, universally known as Vozinha. The veteran, who plays in Portugal’s second division, produced seven saves, including a point-blank reaction stop from Ferran Torres and a fingertip deflection of an Aymeric Laporte header. Lamine Yamal, nursing a recent injury, was introduced in the second half but could not break the blue wall. Spanish media reacted with fury: “Bajonazo mundial” (World Cup letdown) and “desastre para empezar” (disaster to start) were typical front-page judgements. For Cape Verde, the result was a national epic – Vozinha, whose father had wanted to name him after Argentina’s Jorge Valdano, wept at the final whistle, and his Instagram following surged from 50,000 to over two million within hours.

In Seattle, Belgium narrowly avoided a similar humiliation. Egypt, returning to the World Cup after missing 2022, took a deserved lead in the 19th minute when Emam Ashour rifled a low shot past Thibaut Courtois after a clever assist from Mohamed Salah, who was celebrating his 34th birthday. The Pharaohs controlled much of the first half and threatened to secure their first-ever World Cup victory. Rudi García’s Belgium, disjointed and blunt, failed to register a shot on target before the interval. The game turned on a substitution: Romelu Lukaku entered in the 66th minute and, within 22 seconds, his presence forced defender Mohamed Hany to turn a Thomas Meunier cross into his own net. Egypt pressed for a winner and had a late penalty appeal waved away, but the 1-1 draw extended their winless run at World Cups to four tournaments. Belgian captain Youri Tielemans acknowledged his side must improve sharply before facing Iran.

In Miami, Uruguay also required a late rescue act. Marcelo Bielsa’s side, two-time world champions, fell behind five minutes before half-time when Saudi Arabia’s Abdulelah Al-Amri pounced on a rebound after Fernando Muslera parried a corner. The Green Falcons, who famously beat Argentina in Qatar 2022, defended with discipline and relied on goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais, who made eight saves. Uruguay laid siege after the break, launching 29 shots and winning 14 corners, but only found an equaliser in the 80th minute through Maxi Araujo, who converted a loose ball after a Federico Viñas header was saved. Bielsa immediately substituted his goalscorer, a curious decision that puzzled observers. The 1-1 draw left South American sides still without a victory at this World Cup – Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay had all failed to win earlier – intensifying scrutiny on Argentina’s debut the following day.

Viewed from the grandstands of North America, the day’s results reinforced a broader narrative: the gap between football’s aristocracy and its aspirants is narrowing fast. Group H now sits in perfect equilibrium, with all four teams on a single point, while Group G is similarly poised ahead of Iran’s meeting with New Zealand. Spain’s De la Fuente insisted there was no cause for panic, pointing to his team’s 30-match unbeaten run, but the lack of cutting edge without a fully fit Yamal and Nico Williams raised uncomfortable questions. Cape Verde, meanwhile, will carry their historic point into a meeting with Uruguay with genuine belief. As one African football official noted, the archipelago’s success – built on a decade-long project to recruit diaspora talent – is a template for small nations everywhere. The World Cup, it seems, has only just begun to surprise.