Cape Verde, in its absolute debut in a World Cup, advanced to the round of 32 and already has a defined rival: Argentina, current world champion.
The match will be played on Friday, July 3, 2026at 13 hours from Guatemala. The venue is still awaiting official confirmation.
Cape Verde sealed a historic qualification with three draws in the group stage, against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. With these results they added three points and finished second in Group H, behind Spain.
The African team, led by Bubista, stood out for its defensive order, Vozinha’s experience in goal and a collective proposal that allowed it to compete against teams with a greater World Cup experience.
Argentina, for its part, finished first in its group and arrives with the experience of being the current world champion. Lionel Messi, at 39 years old, continues as a reference figure in a team that combines hierarchy and ambition to retain the title.
The match presents a clear contrast: the excitement of a debutant team that has already exceeded all expectations versus the favoritism of a team accustomed to the decisive phases. For Cape Verde it will be a unique opportunity; For Argentina, a match that requires concentration to avoid surprises.
Crossings confirmed so far
- Brazil vs. Japan โ June 29
- Germany vs. Paraguay โ June 29
- Netherlands vs. Morocco โ June 29
- Ivory Coast vs. Norway โ June 30
- France vs. Sweden โ June 30
- United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina โ July 1
- Spain vs. Austria* โ July 2
- Australia vs. Iran* โ July 3
- Argentina vs. Cape Verde โ July 3, 1:00 p.m. Guatemala
* Subject to the conclusion of the last group stage matches.