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By Megan Armstrong
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Spain entered the 2026 FIFA men's World Cup as the overwhelming favorite to win the Cup for the first time since 2010.
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is responsible for a large swath of the world's confidence in Spain's success. The 18-year-old wunderkind was on the bench to start Spain's World Cup opener against Cape Verde, as he works back into peak fitness after suffering a hamstring injury in late April.
Spain wasn't supposed to need Yamal against Cape Verde, the third-smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup, but Cape Verde dragged Spain down into a 0-0 dogfight.
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Yamal came on for his World Cup debut in the 71st minute, and while he provided a spark, even he couldn't get past Vozinha, Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper.
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Spain recorded 27 shots, including seven shots on goal, but Vozinha saved all seven to preserve a 0-0 draw for Cape Verde — the nation's first point in its first World Cup match in its history. Vozinha, born Josimar José Évora Dias, was named Man of the Match.
"Vozinha made 7 saves vs. Spain, preventing an xG of 1.46, the joint-best goalkeeping performance at the World Cup so far in terms of xG prevented," Statman Dave posted on X. "At 40, the oldest goalkeeper ever to keep a clean sheet at the World Cup."
Cape Verde's heroics defined the most stunning match of this World Cup so far, and it's definitively an unforeseen start to Group H play. Uruguay and Saudi Arabia will open their World Cup runs later Monday. Spain should be fine moving forward and remain the favorite to win the group.
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