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Quite the irony that the world cup final will be played between two powerhouses who failed to tame Cape Verde in 90 minutes.
Lionel Messi (10) reacts falls to the ground during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Argentina and Cape Verde. (AFP Photo)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will have a fitting finale on Sunday as Spain and Argentina, the tournament’s two most consistent teams, meet in the summit clash, after going through the rigours of the group stage followed by knockout rounds.
Title holders Argentina secured victory in each of their seven matches, while Spain bounced back after a goalless draw with tournament debutant Cape Verde to win the next six and qualify for their second ever World Cup final.
There is one thread that links the finalists, and it comes courtesy of Cape Verde – the smallest nation to have ever taken part in a FIFA World Cup.
Of the 13 teams that either faced Argentina or Spain, only Cape Verde managed to leave both without a straightforward victory in 90 minutes.
Cape Verde created history with a remarkable campaign to advance to the Round of 32 where they lost to eventual finalists Argentina.
They first frustrated Spain into a goalless draw in the group stage before later taking Argentina to extra time in a dramatic Round of 32 meeting. It is a quirky trivia, but one that has become one of the tournament’s charming subplots.
Spain, who eventually topped their group and have since looked every bit the title contenders, were held 0-0 by an organised and fearless Cape Verde side.
While the draw raised eyebrows at the time, it soon became apparent that Cape Verde were no ordinary underdogs. Their compact defending, a goalkeeper that refused to give up, and disciplined midfield earned admiration throughout the competition.
Argentina’s meeting with Cape Verde was even more memorable.
Expected to cruise through the Round of 32, the South Americans instead found themselves dragged into one of the tournament’s most entertaining knockout matches.
Cape Verde refused to wilt, matching Argentina stride for stride before eventually succumbing 3-2 after extra time. It was the only clash en route to the final in which Argentina needed more than the regulation time of 90 minutes to progress.
In hindsight, neither Spain nor Argentina should feel embarrassed by those performances. If anything, Cape Verde’s resilience has only enhanced the value of those results.
As the tournament progressed, both finalists settled into a familiar rhythm.
Spain eased past Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32 before edging Portugal 1-0 in a tense Iberian derby. They followed that with a composed 2-1 victory over Belgium before producing perhaps their finest display in a 2-0 semi-final win against France.
Argentina’s path was marginally more dramatic. After surviving Cape Verde, they edged Egypt 3-2 in another lively contest before overcoming Switzerland 3-1 in the quarter-finals.
A hard-fought 2-1 victory against England then secured their place in the final.
The result is a meeting between two footballing nations with rich histories and different styles.
Spain’s patient possession game has once again proved effective, while Argentina have blended attacking flair with an ability to find decisive moments when matches have tightened.
For all the focus on Sunday’s heavyweight clash, Cape Verde’s tournament has left an indelible impression.
The African nation may not feature in the final, but they can claim a unique distinction: No team managed to prevent Spain from winning in regulation time during the tournament, and no other side pushed Argentina beyond 90 minutes except for a tiny island nation that was playing in its first ever World Cup.
That’s something.
Cape Verde made its debut in the FIFA World Cup in 2026, reaching the knockout stage as the smallest nation by population and land area to do so. They secured a place in the Round of 32 by drawing all three of their group-stage matches.
About the Author
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More
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