The 2026 World Cup has been full of plot twists. One week you’re questioning the favourites, the next they’re back into control, and in between a debutant nation is casually making a splash.
Sunday’s action delivered another chapter in this World Cup story: A statement Spanish win, an Iranian goalkeeping masterclass and a stunning Cape Verde draw that continues to reshape what this tournament might become.
Since kickoff on June 11, every day has brought fresh storylines, shifting contenders and viral moments that refuse to sit still. Nothing stays settled for long, and that’s exactly the fun of it.
Read on for Sunday’s takeaways from the World Cup.
GROUP G: New Zealand vs. Egypt
Spain remembered the assignment
Lamine Yamal arrived at the World Cup in glittering fashion.
A week after Spain was side-eyed following a Cape Verde draw, the 18-year-old decided enough was enough. A simple finish at the back post netted his first World Cup goal. And after failing to start on Matchday 1, his celebration told the real story: part prayer, part relief, and part I told you so.
But if Yamal gave the headline, Mikel Oyarzabal stole the front page. Criticized for doing nothing against Capo Verde, the Real Sociedad forward responded with gumption: two goals, an assist, and a performance that resembled a public apology.
Meanwhile, captain Rodri was Spain’s thermostat – not too hot, not too cool, but the right amount of balance. The Manchester City star’s ability to calmly dictate flow and pace will be important for a deep run.
The Saudi Arabians knew they’d be in for a tough afternoon, but they also led to their own demise. Georgios Donis’ side was disorganized defensively, leaving gaps for the Spanish attack to tiptoe through. The ball was in their end for most of the game, failing to break Spain’s sharp press and relentless tempo.
This brings us to the bigger picture. Spain arrived at this World Cup as favourites. After Cape Verde, that status felt uncertain. Now it feels deserved. Remember when Argentina lost their opening match in 2022, then went on to lift the trophy? Spain could be on a similar path. World Cups are marathons disguised as sprints, where one result rarely tells the full story.
Luis de la Fuente clearly agrees. At halftime, he pulled Yamal and Oyarzabal like someone managing expensive glassware. It was a correct decision – slightly unpopular, but absolutely necessary.
And so La Roja left Atlanta Stadium with something better than goals: a reminder. They didn’t look like contenders figuring it out. They looked like a team that remembered exactly who they are.
The debutants brought the drama
Have you ever heard the phrase “just happy to be here?” It’s used to describe a team or person content with participation alone – no expectations, demands or pressure.
Cape Verde did not get that memo.
Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Uruguay means they’ve secured two statement results in the space of a week. Suddenly, their presence feels less like a novelty and more like a problem for everyone else.
Every World Cup tends to produce a Cinderella story, a team that bends the narrative. And Cape Verde is fast becoming that side. Against Uruguay, the Cape Verdeans once again showed remarkable resilience, bravery, physicality and belief. More than that, they looked comfortable in chaos, and thrived in moments where others might expect them to fold.
Meanwhile, Uruguay will need to take a hard look at how it let this one slip. There may be some consolation in the fact that Spain dropped points against the same opposition, but it leaves the group finely balanced and headed toward a tense final round of fixtures.
After Argentina’s training session on Sunday, midfielder Enzo Fernández was asked about the growing competitiveness of underdog nations at this tournament.
“(Soccer) is becoming more even and I feel like this World Cup is more competitive,” he said. “Nowadays, there are many teams that are surprising and having a great group stage.”
That sentiment feels increasingly hard to dispute. Cape Verde has emerged not as a novelty, but as one of the tournament’s most compelling disruptions.
Belgium had the ball, but Iran had Beiranvand
It’s no secret Belgium had a frustrating afternoon. Tapped to take control, they did everything but score – plenty of momentum, but no breakthrough.
Kevin De Bruyne tried to play conductor, Romelu Lukaku hovered in the box, and Youri Tielemans had the chances. But for all the Belgian possession, the final action missed the mark, like a punchline that didn’t quite land.
That feeling of discomfort never changed for Belgium.
Meanwhile, Iran played on its terms. The Iranians had under 30 per cent possession, but treated it like a choice instead of a problem. Amir Ghalenoei’s side stayed compact, patient, and waited for something to come its way – and it nearly did. Mehdi Taremi thought he slipped the ball past Thibaut Courtois 25 minutes in, only for VAR to call it offside. It was a warning the Red Devils failed to heed.
Just when Belgium was searching for a breakthrough, Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made sure it never found one. The 33-year-old was excellent from the opening exchanges, including a full-stretch stop to deny Maxim De Cuyper from point-blank range. Without him, Belgium surely would have earned three points.
Increasingly, solid goalkeeping is a theme at this World Cup. Cape Verde’s Vozinha went from 56,000 Instagram followers to over 14 million after his heroics against Spain. Curaçao’s Eloy Room produced a 15-save masterclass against Ecuador, the kind of performance that makes you double-check if you’re watching a highlights reel or a simulation. Now, Beiranvand joins the collection: another keeper, another script rewritten.
By full-time, Belgium had the ball, but Iran had a point — and the goalkeeper who made sure of it. It’s hard to say this out loud, but it feels like Belgium’s golden age is fading.
It’s one thing to score at a World Cup. It’s another to be compared to Pelé.
Is it too early to dub this the save of the tournament? Beiranvand’s lightning-fast reflexes deny Belgium from point-blank range.
29-year-old Kevin Pina netted Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup goal in style. His long-range golazo will surely go down as one of the tournament’s best free-kicks.
After missing Cape Verde’s opener against Spain due to visa issues, Vozinha’s mother was finally in Miami on Sunday to watch her son face Uruguay.
What had gone viral days earlier – both his goalkeeping performance and the story of her absence – turned into a full-circle moment as she watched him live on the World Cup stage.
1. Lamine Yamal (Spain): The wonderkid became the youngest player in history to score at both a Euros and World Cup – and looked completely at home doing it. He glided past Saudi Arabia with ease, needing just 10 minutes to remind everyone why Spain’s ceiling is so high with him on the pitch.
2. Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain): The 29-year-old was Spain’s finishing touch, repeatedly turning dominance into damage. Two goals and an assist inside 25 minutes underlined just how quickly he can flip a match when given space to breathe.
3. Alireza Beiranvand (Iran): The netminder put on a clinic against Belgium, making seven big saves to keep a clean sheet. The Tractor SC star is one of the most experienced players in Iran’s squad, with over 80 international caps and appearances at both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
