Cape Verde committed only one foul in their World Cup 2026 opener on 15/6, which was also their first match in the tournament's history. The single foul was attributed to Lopes Cabral for a hand to Marcos Llorente's face in the 15th minute.

According to Opta, Cape Verde's performance marks the fewest fouls by a team in a World Cup match since 1966, when such records began to be tracked. The African nation surpassed the previous record of three fouls, held jointly by West Germany against Chile in 1974 and Costa Rica against Germany in 2022.

Brazil still holds the record for the most fouls in a single World Cup match, with 31 fouls in their 2014 quarter-final clash against Colombia.

Lopes Cabral fouls Marcos Llorente during the Spain 0-0 Cape Verde match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA, in Group H of World Cup 2026 on 15/6. *Photo: AP*

Lopes Cabral received a yellow card for Cape Verde's only foul. This also set a record for the highest yellow card-to-foul ratio in a World Cup match, at 100%.

In their Group H opener, Spain maintained 62% possession, took 23 shots, with eight on target, yet failed to score. They created several opportunities, but the crossbar and goalkeeper Vozinha denied them. In contrast, Cape Verde successfully executed a deep defensive strategy. The African side often positioned eight players in their own half, controlling space and forming a solid "wall" in front of their goal.

Marca described Cape Verde's defensive structure as "nearly perfect." This system, requiring minimal fouls, effectively neutralized the Euro 2024 champions, preventing them from capitalizing on possession and scoring chances. It presented a more effective and less aggressive version of the defensive styles seen in Italian football or under coach Jose Mourinho.

Spain committed 10 fouls and also received a yellow card. Their higher foul count, despite dominating possession, represented another setback for coach Luis De La Fuente's team, in addition to the 0-0 draw. Following the match, De La Fuente acknowledged Cape Verde's well-organized play.

The 0-0 draw between Spain and Cape Verde was a significant upset given the disparity in skill. Before the match, the European team was ranked second in FIFA, 60 places above their opponent.

Bookmakers listed Spain, alongside France, as the top favorites for the World Cup 2026 title, with odds of 5/1. England followed at 8,5/1, Brazil at 9/1, and Argentina and Portugal at 11/1.

Spain has participated in 16 World Cups and won the title in 2010. In the Euro championship, they hold the record with four titles.

Cape Verde is making its World Cup debut after seven attempts in the qualifying rounds. In the Africa Cup of Nations, the team has competed in 14 qualifiers, reached the finals four times, and advanced to the quarter-finals two times. They failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing last in a group that included Egypt, Botswana, and Mauritania.

Cape Verde, an archipelago nation, is located in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 570 km off the coast of West Africa. It was a Portuguese colony until gaining independence in 1975. With a population of 524.877, according to the World Bank, it is the second smallest nation in World Cup history to participate in the tournament, after Iceland (which qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with an estimated population of 335.000 at the time).