Could Argentina face a surprise against Cabo Verde?
Newcomers, Cabo Verde, must take on the biggest challenge of their inaugural World Cup appearance: play against the defending champions, Argentina. Their match takes place at Miami Stadium on Friday, July 3.
This could be one of the most striking mismatches of the tournament, or it could be one of the biggest surprises.
In a sense, the pressure is on Argentina not to lose, as Cabo Verde has already surpassed expectations and advanced from the group phase.
How did Argentina perform in the group stage?
Argentina won all three of their group matches, only conceding one goal throughout. Mexico and France were the only other teams able to win each fixture.
Jun 16: Argentina 3 – 0 Algeria (Group play)
Jun 22: Argentina 2 – 0 Austria (Group play)
Jun 27: Jordan 1 – 3 Argentina (Group play)
Although Jordan was the only side to score against Argentina, they lost all their games and finished bottom of Group J.
3 spots remain. #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 3, 2026
How did Cabo Verde advance without winning a game?
Cabo Verde advanced to the knockout phase as the runner-up of Group H without winning a single game. They had three draws, including their opener against top-ranked Spain. A win in itself, as Spain won their other two games.
Jun 15: Spain 0 – 0 Cabo Verde (Group play)
Jun 21: Uruguay 2 – 2 Cabo Verde (Group play)
Jun 26: Cabo Verde 0 – 0 Saudi Arabia (Group play)
| Team | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Spain | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 7 |
| Cabo Verde | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Uruguay | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 2 |
| Saudi Arabia | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 2 |
Have Argentina and Cabo Verde ever played each other before?
Argentina and Cabo Verde have never competed against each other in international football before.
This is the first time ever that Cabo Verde has qualified for the FIFA World Cup. They came close in some African qualifiers but never made it to the finals. It is a huge achievement for one of the smallest and least-populated nations to qualify and then advance to the knockout stage.
Unfortunately, their next step is to play against the defending champions, who are heavy favorites to gain the title again.
What is the prediction for Argentina vs Cabo Verde in the 2026 World Cup?
Cabo Verde has played an excellent defensive tournament so far, not taking chances and holding off their opponents from scoring. Two of their group stage matches were goalless, but that’s no longer an option in the knockout stage. Someone has to score.
They were huge underdogs in the group stage and made it through by playing with heart, organization, and counter-attack threats. They will do their best to hold off the Argentina attackers, but that’s a losing battle against a team with multiple, relentless ways to score.
Argentina has the core that won in 2022, and everything still runs through Messi. The captain lets his teammates do the work while he watches for the right moments to take control and create chances.
Our Argentina vs Cabo Verde prediction is a harsh loss for the African island nation, with Argentina winning 3-0. Whatever the outcome, Cabo Verde will be celebrating after the game.
