FIFA news: Spanish flops crucified by media after disaster

• LISTEN LIVE to the World Cup
• SYNC our World Cup commentary to your TV
• Cape Verde 0-0 Spain FT
• Belgium 1-1 Egypt FT
• Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay FT
• Iran 2-2 New Zealand FT

World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finally gets under way (All times AEST).

Whatever happens at this World Cup, Cape Verde’s 0-0 draw against tournament favourites will go down in folklore as one fo the most unexpected results in tournament history.

The European champions against the second smallest nation in the competition.

Odds favourites to lift the trophy against World Cup debutants.

Some of the biggest names in the world against a former mortgage broker from Ireland that got a call, up via LinkedIn that he initially thought was a scam.

Incredible scenes in Atlanta and haven’t the Spanish media crucified their champions.

“An historic disappointment” was the headline from Madrid-based newspaper AS.

“Spain has made history... in a negative way. Luis de la Fuente's team was a mere shadow of its former self throughout the match,” editor-in-chief, José Félix Diaz wrote.

“A spectacular failure” was the front page of daily sports edition Marca which called out a lack of changes and substitutions before the 71st minute when Lamine Yamal came on.

It was a similar sentiment everywhere in Spain.

“What a disappointment," exclaimed the front of El Diario with a photo of Mikel Oyarzabal who became the first player since 1966 to play 30+ minutes in a FIFA World Cup match without recording a single touch of the ball.

Mainstream newspaper El Periodico went with “ a fiasco to start with.

Spain will look to rectify their campaign in the second match against Saudi Arabia before meeting Uruaguay.

FAN NETS $6M ON ONE BET

Few in the world would have the gumption to have gone against Spain dominating their opening World Cup clash against Cape Verde, but it’s landed on lucky punter more than $6 million.

The tiny African nation – which is making it’s World Cup debut – held the European giants to a 0-0 draw in Atlanta on Tuesday (AEST) despite 27 shots on goal.

According to reports in the UK, one fan bet $600,000 on Cape Verde to avoid defeat at roughly 10-1 odds.

It was confirmed after the match that the punter in question collected $6.6 million.

The stats from the game were incredible with Spain enjoying 74% of the possession but superstar Mikel Oyarzabal became the first player since 1966 to go the first 30 minutes of a World Cup match without a single touch.

HYDRATION BREAKS SLAMMED BY PLAYERS

It’s taken five days for someone to ask a player for their thoughts on the World Cup refreshment breaks amid widespread criticism that the FIFA innovation breaks momentum.

For the first time in World Cup history, mid way through both halves, play is halted and players have a mandatory three-minute break.

After his side’s opening clash 2-2 draw with Japan, Netherlands star Virgil van Dijk said he didn’t really approve of the new breaks in play.

“I think hydration breaks are really interesting.

“I have been watching almost all the games up until today. Every time it goes into a commercial, I don’t really like it.

“For the neutral watchers on TV, it’s not great.

“If it’s really hot, obviously, it’s going to be good to do, but I think you have to look at it in every game separately.”

He then brought an abrupt end to the topic: “I think I’ve said enough already.”

2-2 DRAW IN LA!

Points shared in a very entertaining 2-2 draw between Iran and New Zealand in Inglewood.

The Iranian side twice came from behind, both times levelling after goals from Kiwi talent Elijah Just who netted in the 7th and 55th minutes.

Ramin Rezaeian (32') and Mohammad Mohebi (64') were the goal scorers for Iran who had to defend eight NZ shots on goal.

The Group G table has New Zealand and Iran sitting top two having both netted twice ahead of Belgium and Egypt who played out a 1-1 draw.

The All Whites are unbeaten in their last four World Cup outings.

IRAN AND NEW ZEALAND LEVEL IN THRILLING FIRST HALF

One a piece in the first half between Iran and NZ in an exhilerating end-to-end bout.

50/50 on possession and near identical stats, the sides cannot be split after 45 minutes.

ALL SQUARE IN MIAMI

It ends 1-1 between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

Maximiliano Araujo's 80th-minute equaliser cancelled out Abdulelah Al-Amri's first-half opener.

The Uruguayans were dominant for the last 30 minutes, peppering the Saudi goal, but were unable to find a winner.

Not much in it within the Group H standings after Spain's 0-0 draw with Cape Verde. All four nations have a point.

Uruguay and Saudi Arabia sit top two having both scored.

WORLD CUP COACH SACKED

One game was enough for the bosses at Tunisia football with Sabri Lamouchi axed after just one game at the World Cup.

The side were smashed 5-1 by Sweden on Monday (AEST) in Monterrey, the result leaving fans and players furious.

Lamouchi, a former French international, was in charge for just five games.

“The agreement to dismiss coach Sabri Lamouchi has been officially signed," read a release.

“The move is towards appointing Mondher Kebaier as the national team coach (on an interim basis) to complete the World Cup matches.

“The Tunisian Football Federation will work to secure a visa for Olympic team coach Anis Boujelbane to join the coaching staff.”

Incredibly, it's not the first time Tunisia has sacked a coach during a World Cup. In 1998 Henryk Kaspercza was dismissed after the second group match.

Tunisia faces Japan on June 20.

URUGUAY EQUALISES!

Safe to say this equaliser was coming.

Uruguay level it at 1-1 in the 80th minute with a nice left-footed finish from Maximiliano Araujo.

Saudi keeper Mohammed Al Owais denied a Federico Viñas header which fell kindly for Araujo to fire home.

The South Americans have been bossing possession and increasing their attacking output in the second half.

A winner seems a possibility now!

1-0 SAUDI ARABIA!

Saudi Arabi takes a 1-0 lead in the 41st minute in Miami.

Uruguayan keeper Fernando Muslera made the initial save, denying a header from a corner, but the ball fell in the path of Abdulelah Al-Amri who pounced and finished opportunistically from close range.

1-1 IN SEATTLE

Belgium and Egypt walk away from their Group G opener with a point each after a 1-1 draw in Seattle.

A second-half own-goal from Mohamed Hany cancelled out Emam Ashour's lovely first-half strike.

They two sides combined for 29 shots on goal but neither was unable to find a winner.

27 shots denied as minnows stun World Cup favourites

Spain came to the World Cup as out and out favourites. Safe to say they have been humbled by tournament debutants Cape Verde.

The tiny nation, the second smallest in this year's World Cup, has a population of just 526,000, will be hailed as national heroes back home after holding the reigning European champions to a goalless draw in Atlanta.

The Spanish had 27 shots on goal forcing relentless saves from veteran goalkeeper and man of the match Vozinha.

The result and stats give Spain an unwanted record of the most shots on goal at a World Cup without scoring.

Moreover, stats show Spain completed 734 passes vs Cape Verde's 205 and 593-22 in the attacking half. They will be fuming they didn't win!

Stats also show that Mikel Oyarzabal became the first player since 1966 to go the first 30 minutes of a World Cup match without a single touch.

"The greatest in sport and in football lies in the intangibles and there was something inside those Cape Verde players that wasn't going to let them yield today," Ange Postecoglou said on commentary.

"We sat here and analysed the teams and you say, well, Spain should really win this comfortably, but we don't have what they have inside them, in their hearts.

"There's a small nation of people now who proudly say, 'I'm from Cape Verde,' and there's a recognition from everyone in the world of who they are."

Vozinha paid an emotional tribute to his family afterwards.

"I cried after the game because I grew up with my grandparents when I was a kid, and they could not be there," he said. "They passed away a few years ago.

"My mum could not be here either for a VISA issue, and the money we had to pay for it. We did not manage to do this in time."

Since winning the 2010 World Cup, Spain has struggled on the world stage.

In 12 World Cup matches since the triumph in South Africa, La Roja have won only three and drawn four matches while losing five, including penalty shootouts in the Round of 16 in both 2018 and 2022.

BELGIUM LEVEL!

Within 22 seconds of coming on as a second-half sub, Romelu Lukaku's presence led to Belgium's equaliser in the 65th minute.

Thomas Meunier's low cross from the right was meant for Lukaku who bore down on goal only for Egyptian defender Mohamed Hany to knock it into his own net.

That goal might have saved some blushes for the Belgians who had been 1-0 down since Emam Ashour's wonder strike in the 20th minute.