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2026 World Cup Shocker: First timer, Cape Verde plays barren draw with football giant, Spain

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Cape Verde produced one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far after holding Spain to a goalless draw in their opening Group H fixture earlier today, June 15.

Making their first-ever appearance at the tournament, the African side frustrated the two-time world champions throughout a tense match, securing a memorable point and throwing the group wide open. The result also deepened concerns over Spain’s recent World Cup form, with just one win from their last seven matches at the finals.

Spain dominated possession from the outset but found it difficult to break down a disciplined Cape Verde defence. Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes was outstanding at the back, helping to repel wave after wave of Spanish pressure as Luis de la Fuente’s men struggled to create clear openings.

Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha in action against Spain during the 2026 FIFA World Cup clash.

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Cape Verde nearly caught Spain off guard before the interval when Dailon Livramento attempted an ambitious effort from inside his own half. Spain then came agonisingly close to taking the lead just before the break.

Ferran Torres struck the crossbar from close range after Marc Cucurella nodded the ball across goal, while veteran goalkeeper Vozinha produced a sharp save to deny Mikel Oyarzabal on the rebound.

The pattern remained unchanged after the restart, with Spain controlling the ball but lacking the cutting edge required to unlock Cape Verde’s stubborn defence. Torres almost benefited from a mishit cross that drifted towards goal, but Vozinha reacted quickly to prevent an awkward breakthrough.

Seeking inspiration, De la Fuente introduced Lamine Yamal in the second half, and the teenager immediately raised Spain’s tempo. His direct running created an opportunity for substitute Mikel Merino, but once again Vozinha stood firm to preserve the deadlock.

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Spain continued to push in the closing stages, with Oyarzabal seeing a promising effort blocked heroically by Lopes as Cape Verde edged closer to a famous result. The underdogs nearly completed an extraordinary victory deep into stoppage time when Diney Borges powered a header towards goal, only for Unai Simón to make a crucial save.

The final whistle sparked celebrations among the Cape Verde players and supporters, who watched their team claim a historic point against one of the tournament favourites.

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Anthony Joshua knocks out Kristian Prenga after initial scare

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Anthony Joshua remains on course for a showdown with British heavyweight rival Tyson Fury later this year after recovering from being knocked down inside 20 seconds to secure a second-round knockout of Kristian Prenga in a wild clash in Jeddah.

Joshua endured a dismal first three minutes, hitting the canvas twice, firstly from a vicious uppercut, with the Albanian knockout specialist eyeing a seismic shock.

However, Prenga was demolished shortly after by right hands in AJ’s first outing since he was a passenger in a car crash last December that killed close friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

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Arsenal in surprise drive for Vinícius Jr. amid Real Madrid contract uncertainty

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Arsenal are reportedly considering the possibility of signing Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Júnior in what could become one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer.

According to respected transfer journalist David Ornstein, the Gunners have internally approved the idea of pursuing the Brazilian winger if he fails to agree a new contract with the Spanish giants.

While there have been no club-to-club negotiations at this stage, the interest is said to have the backing of Arsenal’s hierarchy, with the North London club closely monitoring the player’s contract situation.

Vinícius has entered the final 12 months of his current deal at Real Madrid, raising questions about his long-term future at the Santiago Bernabéu. Madrid are keen to avoid losing one of their biggest stars on a free transfer and are also mindful of a substantial loyalty bonus that would become due if he remains at the club into next season.

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Despite the growing speculation, the move remains in its early stages, with no formal talks having taken place between the clubs. However, Ornstein reports that Vinícius is among Arsenal’s primary transfer targets should an opportunity arise.

The Brazilian international has established himself as one of the world’s top attacking players since joining Real Madrid, playing a key role in the club’s domestic and European successes. Any potential deal would likely require a significant transfer fee and a major financial commitment from Arsenal.

For now, Arsenal are keeping a close watch on developments, with Vinícius’ contract negotiations expected to determine whether the Premier League side can turn their ambitious interest into a formal pursuit.

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Just in: 23m support petition to ban Argentina from World Cup as FIFA pushes back

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An online petition calling for Argentina to be banned from the FIFA World Cup has attracted more than 23 million signatures from football fans across the globe, following the conclusion of the 2026 tournament.

According to talkSPORT, the petition, titled “Argentina Out,” amassed 23,316,108 signatures from supporters in 170 countries in less than a week, making it one of the most widely shared online petitions in history.

Organisers had initially hoped to collect five million signatures, but the campaign quickly surpassed that target as frustration over Argentina’s performances and officiating during the tournament spread among football fans.

The petition accused FIFA and match officials of showing favoritism toward Argentina and captain Lionel Messi throughout the competition, allegations that FIFA has consistently denied.

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The petition stated: “Why should the rest of the teams play in the tournament if the winner is known in advance? Exclude Argentina from the World Cup and give everyone a fair chance.” The campaign gained momentum during the World Cup but ultimately failed to achieve its objective.

Argentina’s campaign ended in disappointment after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final. Messi, playing what many believe could be his final World Cup, was seen leaving the pitch in tears following emotional scenes after the final whistle.

The petition was officially closed after the tournament ended, with its website displaying the message: “FIFA ignored us but Spain delivered. Thank you Spain.” Despite the campaign’s widespread support, Argentina faces no disciplinary action and will continue to participate in future FIFA World Cup competitions.

The South American giants are expected to feature in the 2030 tournament, where they are among the nations scheduled to co-host an expanded 64-team competition. Although the petition drew more than 23 million signatures, it narrowly missed becoming the largest online petition ever recorded.

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The current Guinness World Record remains with the Jubilee 2000 campaign, an international movement that called for the cancellation of unpayable debts owed by the world’s poorest nations.

Launched in April 1997, the campaign collected 24,319,181 signatures from 166 countries before being presented at the United Nations Millennium Summit in New York in 2000.

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