The fifth day of the 2026 World Cup group stage produced a rare statistical oddity: all four matches ended level, leaving Groups G and H in a state of complete parity. The headline result came from Atlanta, where Cape Verde held pre-tournament favourites Spain to a goalless draw in one of the biggest surprises of the competition so far.
Spain arrived as heavy favourites against a Cape Verde side many expected to be overwhelmed physically and technically. Instead, the African nation produced a disciplined, courageous defensive display built around 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, whose string of second-half saves kept Luis de la Fuente's side at bay. The Spanish coach turned to teenage forward Lamine Yamal to try to unlock the deadlock, but Cape Verde's back line refused to break, securing a point that will resonate well beyond this tournament. raj-bet sport рулетка
Elsewhere, Belgium and Egypt shared the spoils in a lively 1-1 draw. Emam Ashour's well-struck effort gave Egypt an unexpected lead before Romelu Lukaku's pressure forced Mohamed Hany into an own goal that restored parity. Thibaut Courtois and Mostafa Shoubir both produced important saves to keep the scoreline level, while Kevin De Bruyne's effort against the post was a reminder of how close Belgium came to snatching all three points.
Saudi Arabia and Uruguay Share Spoils in Tense Contest
In Group H's other fixture, Saudi Arabia continued to show the growth that has become a hallmark of Asian football at this level, giving Uruguay a difficult afternoon. Abdulelah Alamri converted a rebound to put the Saudis ahead, with goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais frustrating Uruguay's attackers for long spells. It took until the 80th minute for Maxi Araujo to find an equaliser and spare Uruguay from an opening-day defeat.
New Zealand Impress Despite Late Iran Fightback
The day's most dramatic match came in the Iran-New Zealand encounter, which finished 2-2. Elijah Just scored twice for the Oceania representatives, announcing New Zealand's return to the World Cup stage in style, but Iran twice responded through Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi to salvage a share of the points. New Zealand's performance drew widespread praise, suggesting they will not be easy opponents for the remainder of the group phase.
A Historic Day for Parity
With all eight teams across Groups G and H now level on one point apiece, the tournament has delivered its first day of four draws since 1958. That statistic underscores a broader trend: the gap between traditional powers and emerging footballing nations continues to narrow. Cape Verde's resilience, Saudi Arabia's organisation, and New Zealand's attacking threat all point toward a group stage that promises to be far more competitive and unpredictable than early predictions suggested.
