Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia — World Cup 2026

FILE No. M-940CLASS: GROUP MATCHSTATUS: GROUP STAGEWC 2026 · HOUSTON

Cape Verde Islands

0–0

Saudi Arabia

Match events

W. Pina8'
D. LivramentoOn: N. Da Costa61'
W. SemedoOn: H. Varela61'
R. MendesOn: G. Rodrigues71'
J. MonteiroOn: L. Duarte71'
W. PinaOn: S. Moreira90+4'

4'S. Abdulhamid
33'H. TambaktiOn: A. Lajami
46'A. Al KhaibariOn: M. Al Juwayr
66'S. Al DawsariOn: M. Abu Al Shamat
66'S. MandashOn: A. Al Hamdan
67'N. Al Dawsari
82'N. BoushalOn: M. Al Harbi
90+3'F. Al Buraikan

CPVMatch statsKSA

51%Possession49%

15Shots7

2Shots on Target3

4Corners2

10Fouls16

1Yellow Cards3

Cape Verde Islands — starting XI

4-1-4-1

Bench

26Hélio Varela
21Nuno Da Costa
11Garry Rodrigues
15Laros Duarte
22Steven Moreira
12Márcio Rosa
23CJ Dos Santos
2Stopira
5Logan Costa
25Kelvin Pires
16Yannick Semedo
7Jovane Cabral
9Gilson Tavares

Saudi Arabia — starting XI

4-4-2

Bench

3Ali Lajami
7Musab Al Juwayr
26Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat
19Abdullah Al-Hamdan
24Moteb Al-Harbi
1Nawaf Al-Aqidi
22Ahmed Al-Kassar
2Ali Majrashi
25Jehad Thakri
14Hassan Kadesh
8Ayman Yahya
16Ziyad Aljohani
18Ala'a Al-Hejji
17Khalid Al-Ghannam
11Saleh Al-Shehri

All-time meetings

Cape Verde wins

Draws

Saudi Arabia wins

02 · Tale of the Tape

Tale of the tape.

29.7

Average Age

28.6

03 · The Form Guide

Last five walks into the room.

Who's hotter going in? Latest competitive results, newest first.

Cape Verde

Jun 27

vs Saudi Arabia

World Cup · Group Stage - 3 · NRG Stadium

0–0

Jun 21

at Uruguay

World Cup · Group Stage - 2 · Hard Rock Stadium

2–2

Jun 15

at Spain

World Cup · Group Stage - 1 · Mercedes-Benz Stadium

0–0

Jun 6

vs Bermuda

Friendlies · Friendly International

3–0

May 31

vs Serbia

Friendlies · Friendly International · Estádio do Restelo

3–0

Saudi Arabia

Jun 27

at Cape Verde Islands

World Cup · Group Stage - 3 · NRG Stadium

0–0

Jun 21

at Spain

World Cup · Group Stage - 2 · Mercedes-Benz Stadium

0–4

Jun 15

vs Uruguay

World Cup · Group Stage - 1 · Hard Rock Stadium

1–1

Jun 9

vs Senegal

Friendlies · Friendly International · Toyota Field

0–0

Jun 5

at Puerto Rico

Friendlies · Friendly International · Q2 Stadium

3–0

05 · Key Battles

Three duels that decide it.

// Right wing vs left back · Pace vs defensive discipline

Varela's directness and athleticism will test Abdulhamid early. The Roma defender has pedigree but faces relentless intensity—expect tactical fouls if Cape Verde find their rhythm down the flank.

// Playmaker vs midfielder · Vision and control

Jamiro Monteiro

#10 · PEC Zwolle

Nasser Al Dawsari

#6 · Al-Hilal Saudi FC

Both crave the ball's centre stage. Monteiro's European pedigree against Al Dawsari's Al-Hilal experience creates a midfield chess match—possession will pivot on who dictates tempo and space compression.

// Centre back vs striker · Aerial authority

Pico

#4 · Shamrock Rovers

Abdullah Al Hamdan

#19 · Al-Hilal Saudi FC

Pico's leadership from the back will face repeated bombardment from the physical Al Hamdan. This is a battle of positioning intelligence vs raw power—set pieces will be pivotal.

06 · Style Clash

Island Grit Meets Desert Pragmatism

Cape Verde arrive as scrappy, high-energy challengers keen to suffocate Saudi Arabia's build-up. The Saudis, buoyed by Al-Hilal's continental dominance, will seek control and exploit set-piece superiority—a clash of hunger vs experience.

// Island intensity · High-press grit

Cape Verde

// Desert pragmatism · Possession & power

Saudi Arabia

Relentless

Pressing

Structured

Direct

Build-up play

Composed

Explosive

Wing play