Cape Verde Draw Again to Finish Second in Group H

Group Stage · Group H · NRG Stadium, Houston · June 26, 2026

Cape Verde drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in Houston, their third draw in three games, and finish second in Group H. At their first World Cup, they are unbeaten after draws with Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

Chances were scarce in the first half. Saud Abdulhamid was booked in the fourth minute and Cape Verde’s Wagner Pina in the eighth, and the two sides managed only seven shots between them before the break. Saudi Arabia lost center back Hassan Tambakti to injury in the 33rd minute, with Ali Lajami coming on.

Cape Verde came out stronger after halftime, taking 11 of their 15 shots in the second half. Hélio Varela, who scored off the bench against Uruguay, and Nuno Da Costa came on in the 61st minute, followed by Garry Rodrigues and Laros Duarte in the 71st. Da Costa created a big chance. Laros Duarte had the best of the late chances, with a shot on target and a big chance missed, but Mohammed Al-Owais held firm. Saudi Arabia finished with three yellow cards, the last to Firas Al-Buraikan in stoppage time.

Cape Verde had more of the ball and more shots (15 to 7), but put only two on target. Al-Owais made two saves, and at the other end Vozinha made three. Cape Verde also created more, with 1.39 expected goals to Saudi Arabia’s 0.39, and completed 84% of their passes to Saudi Arabia’s 81%.

Lajami, on for almost an hour, was GoalServe’s highest-rated player. Abdulelah Al-Amri created a big chance, and Saudi Arabia did a lot of work without the ball: Sultan Mandash made eight tackles and Mohamed Kanno seven, and Kanno also had his side’s best chance.

For Cape Verde, Vozinha, João Paulo and Diney Borges led the ratings. João Paulo made four interceptions, Deroy Duarte made five tackles, and off the bench Laros Duarte created three chances in under 20 minutes.

Cape Verde lined up in a 4-1-4-1, with Dailon Rocha Livramento as the lone forward. Saudi Arabia played a 4-4-2 with Al-Buraikan and Kanno in attack. François Letexier of France refereed in front of 68,278.

Three points were enough for second place, ahead of Uruguay and Saudi Arabia on two each. Spain top the group with seven. Cape Verde, who opened with a 0-0 draw against Spain and came from behind to draw 2-2 with Uruguay, now go into the Round of 32. Saudi Arabia, after a 1-1 draw with Uruguay and a 4-0 defeat to Spain, finish bottom.

More: Cape Verde at the 2026 World Cup · Saudi Arabia at the 2026 World Cup · Group H guide

ESO Soccer Match Desk

Archive coverage. First published on ESO Soccer on October 2, 2026. The archive date reflects the events covered.