The fifth day of the 2026 World Cup group stage produced a script nobody in Atlanta, Foxborough, Houston or Kansas City saw coming: all four fixtures ended level, an outcome that has not occurred on a single World Cup matchday since 1958. The headline result belonged to Cape Verde, who held pre-tournament favourites Spain to a goalless draw in one of the biggest shocks of the competition so far.
Spain arrived as clear favourites, with most observers expecting Luis de la Fuente's side to overwhelm a Cape Verde team playing in its first-ever World Cup finals. Instead, the Blue Sharks defended with discipline and composure for the full 90 minutes, frustrating a Spanish attack that huffed and puffed without finding a way through. Much like fans debating which plinko game is real before trusting their instincts, football purists went into this fixture assuming the form book would hold - only for Cape Verde to flip the script entirely. The result owed much to 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, whose string of outstanding saves kept the scoreline intact and turned him into the story of the night. which plinko game is real
De la Fuente turned to teenage sensation Lamine Yamal in the second half, hoping fresh legs and invention could break down a well-organised backline. It made little difference. Cape Verde's defensive block held firm until the final whistle, securing a point that will be remembered as one of the greatest results in the country's football history.
Belgium and Egypt Share the Spoils in Six-Goal Thriller
Elsewhere, Belgium and Egypt served up a genuinely entertaining 1-1 draw. Egypt struck first through a well-taken effort from Emam Ashour, catching the Belgians cold. The response came from an unlikely source: Romelu Lukaku's persistent pressing forced defender Mohamed Hany into an own goal, restoring parity for the Red Devils. Both goalkeepers, Thibaut Courtois and Mostafa Shoubir, produced key interventions to keep the scoreline where it was, while Kevin De Bruyne's second-half strike rattled the post - a reminder of how close the match came to swinging either way.
Saudi Arabia Push Uruguay Close, Iran and New Zealand Share Drama
Saudi Arabia continued their recent upward trajectory, giving Uruguay a scare before settling for a 1-1 draw. Abdulelah Alamri capitalised on a rebound to give the Saudis a deserved lead, backed by a strong shift from goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais. Uruguay pushed for an equaliser throughout the second half and finally got it in the 80th minute through Maxi Araujo, sparing La Celeste from an opening-day defeat.
The day's final fixture between Iran and New Zealand delivered the most chaotic scoreline of the round. Elijah Just scored twice for the Oceania side, showcasing the kind of form that has drawn praise for New Zealand since their return to the World Cup stage. Iran twice hit back, with Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi cancelling out Just's goals to secure a 2-2 draw that leaves both sides with plenty to build on.
A Wide-Open Group Stage
With all eight teams across Group G and Group H now level on one point apiece, the tournament's opening exchanges have underlined how tight the gap has become between traditional powers and emerging footballing nations. Four draws on a single day is a rare occurrence in World Cup history, and this particular quartet of results suggests the remaining fixtures in both groups will be fiercely contested, with little separating the contenders on paper.
