The The Spanish national team began its participation in the 2026 World Cup with a goalless draw by drawing 0-0 against Cape Verde, the African team. which is playing for the first time in the most important tournament in world football.
The Cape Verde team resisted during the 90 minutes and neutralized a Roja that never managed to impose its style of play. Cape Verde, along with Jordan, Uzbekistan and Curacao, is part of the four debuting teams in this edition. The draw against one of the favorites for the title became one of the main surprises of the day.
Spain never found the goal they were looking for. Luis de la Fuente moved his pieces insistently and turned to Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Mikel Merino, but the scoreboard did not move.
The figure of the meeting was veteran goalkeeper Josimar Évora, who at 40 years old became one of the keys to the result by stopping the Spanish team’s attempts.
Vozinha, figure of the party
To his 40 years old, Josimar José Évora Dias, known as Vozinha, was the figure of the meeting. Without a team after ending his relationship with Chaves, from the second division of Portugal, and with a market value of 50 thousand euros, according to Transfermarktbecame one of the keys to the result. Not even Lamine Yamal, valued at 200 million euros, managed to surpass the Cape Verdean goalkeeper.
Vozinha stood out with decisive interventions. First, with a shot from Ferran Torres that hit the post in the 38th minute. Then, with a save from a header from Aymeric Laporte shortly before half-time. His performance will remain among the most outstanding in the football history of Cape Verde.
The Cape Verde goalkeeper crying after playing the best game of his life against Spain and in the World Cup.
GENIUS!!!! 🤍🇨🇻 pic.twitter.com/uwuwiqvYEj https://t.co/aXH5cKYSlU
— MT2 (@madrid_total2) June 15, 2026
Spain, without aim
La Roja accumulated 21 scoring chances and six shots on goal, but the lack of precision and Cape Verde’s defense prevented them from opening the scoring.
Marc Cucurella insisted from the left side with dangerous crosses, although Ferran Torres was unable to convert the opportunities generated. In the final stretch, Dani Olmo entered in search of solutions, but he did not find the way to the goal either.
The tie leaves doubts in Spain and forces it to react in the next matches in Group H, where it will also face Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Cape Verde, on the other hand, celebrated the result as a triumph and added a historic page to its first World Cup participation.