Iran fought back bravely to snatch a thrilling 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their World Cup opener, while European champions Spain were held to a shocking 0-0 draw by debutants Cape Verde on Monday.
The much-awaited FIFA World Cup 2026 began with high drama as Iran, despite facing months of uncertainty due to regional tensions, delivered a resilient performance in Group G. Playing at the iconic SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in front of over 70,000 fans, Iran twice came from behind to earn a vital point. New Zealand took the lead twice through Elijah Just, but Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi scored for Iran to secure the draw. This result gave the Iranians a strong start after all the pre-match political discussions around their participation and training base issues.
In another major upset of the day, Spain failed to break down a determined Cape Verde side in Group H. Despite dominating possession with 74 percent and creating numerous chances, the 2010 world champions could not find the net against the African underdogs. Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha produced several brilliant saves to help his team earn a historic point in their first-ever World Cup match. The island nation, with a population of just 525,000, celebrated the result as a dream come true.
Cape Verde coach and players showed immense pride after holding one of the tournament favorites. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente remained positive, stating that his team is calm and still confident of going far in the competition with seven matches still remaining.
Other results on the day included Belgium coming from behind to draw with Egypt thanks to a late own goal, while Uruguay also settled for a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia after trailing at halftime.
These opening matches have already delivered plenty of surprises and excitement, proving once again that the World Cup remains full of unpredictable moments. Fans around the world are now eagerly waiting for more thrilling action in this expanded 48-team tournament.
