Matchday 5 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be remembered as the day the underdogs ruled. As Groups G and H completed their opening round, all four matches finished level — a first for this tournament — headlined by World Cup debutants Cape Verde holding favourites Spain to a goalless draw. Here is a full recap of a dramatic day.
June 15 Group G & H Results
Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
The most stunning result of the World Cup so far unfolded in Atlanta, where tournament debutants Cape Verde held reigning European champions Spain to a 0-0 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. One of the smallest nations ever to qualify, Cape Verde defended with discipline, organisation and no shortage of courage, frustrating one of the pre-tournament favourites for 90 minutes.
Goalkeeper Vozinha was the hero, producing a string of saves to deny a Spain side that dominated possession but could not find a way through. For Cape Verde, a first-ever World Cup point against such illustrious opponents was a moment of national history; for Spain, it was a sobering reminder that there are no easy games at this World Cup.
Belgium 1-1 Egypt
Group G produced its own surprise as Egypt earned a deserved 1-1 draw with Belgium in Seattle. Inspired by their talismanic captain Mohamed Salah, Egypt matched one of the tournament’s most talented squads and refused to be beaten, leaving the group wide open after the opening round.
Belgium will feel they should have taken all three points given their quality, but Egypt’s resilience and threat on the counterattack earned them a valuable share of the spoils.
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay
The upsets continued in Miami, where Saudi Arabia pushed two-time champions Uruguay all the way before settling for a 1-1 draw. Abdulelah Al Amri gave the Green Falcons a first-half lead, and they held it until Maximiliano Araújo struck a late equaliser in the 80th minute to rescue a point for Uruguay.
Uruguay dominated possession and created the better chances, but Saudi Arabia’s organisation and determination earned them a creditable draw against one of South America’s heavyweights.
Iran 2-2 New Zealand
The day concluded in Los Angeles with a back-and-forth thriller, as Iran and New Zealand shared four goals in an entertaining 2-2 draw. Both sides traded blows in an open contest, with New Zealand — making their third World Cup appearance — battling hard for a point against one of Asia’s most consistent qualifiers.
The result left all four Group G teams level on a single point, setting up a fascinating race for qualification in the matches to come.
Group standings impact
The draws kept both groups tight. In Group G, Iran, New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt are all level on one point. In Group H, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Cape Verde are also all locked together on a point apiece — a remarkable outcome that leaves Spain with work to do despite their status as favourites.
What’s next
Attention turns to Groups I and J, which begin today. France face Senegal and holders Argentina take on Algeria, with Norway’s Erling Haaland and Austria also in action. After a day defined by the underdogs, the heavyweights now enter the tournament.
Frequently asked questions
What were the World Cup 2026 results on June 15? Spain drew 0-0 with Cape Verde, Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt, Saudi Arabia drew 1-1 with Uruguay, and Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand — four draws in one day.
Did Cape Verde really hold Spain? Yes. World Cup debutants Cape Verde earned a historic 0-0 draw against Spain, with goalkeeper Vozinha making several crucial saves.
Who scored for Saudi Arabia against Uruguay? Abdulelah Al Amri gave Saudi Arabia the lead before Maximiliano Araújo equalised for Uruguay in the 80th minute.
Follow every result
Keep up with every score and the latest group tables on our Live Standings page, and read full match previews and reports on the Blog.