Even the favorites must earn their advancement
On a Miami night that humbled the mighty, reigning world champions Argentina were pushed to the edge of elimination by Cabo Verde — a nation playing in its first-ever World Cup — before surviving 3-2 in extra time. Lionel Messi scored and was named man of the match, yet the margin of victory owed as much to a defender's misfortune as to Argentine brilliance. The match stands as a quiet testament to football's democratic spirit: that the grandest stage belongs, at least for a moment, to anyone willing to claim it.
- Argentina, the reigning world champions, were taken to the brink by debutants Cabo Verde, who equalized twice and nearly engineered one of the tournament's great upsets.
- Messi opened the scoring, but Cabo Verde's Duarte and Cabral each found the net to keep the island nation level and force 120 minutes of football in Miami.
- Lisandro Martinez and an agonizing own goal by Diney ultimately settled the contest, sparing Argentina a historic early exit.
- Argentina advance to face Egypt on July 7 in Atlanta, while only Morocco and Egypt remain to carry the African continent's hopes in the tournament.
The reigning world champions needed every one of 120 minutes to survive their Round of 32 encounter in Miami, as Cabo Verde — making their World Cup debut — refused to be a gracious opponent. Messi gave Argentina the lead at the half-hour mark, but the island nation equalized through Duarte in the 59th minute, and the match reached full time locked at 1-1.
Extra time brought more drama rather than relief. Martinez restored Argentina's advantage in the 92nd minute, only for Cabral to level again at 2-2 in the 103rd, sending Cabo Verde's supporters into rapture and leaving the favorites visibly shaken. The decisive moment arrived not through inspiration but through misfortune — a Diney own goal finally broke Cabo Verde's resistance and secured Argentina's passage.
Messi, whose seventh goal of the tournament had started it all, was named man of the match. But the evening belonged in spirit to Cabo Verde, who showed that football's grandest stage has room for the unexpected. Argentina now turn their attention to Egypt on July 7 in Atlanta, one of only two African sides — alongside Morocco — to reach the Round of 16.
The reigning world champions nearly stumbled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Miami on Saturday, needing the full 120 minutes to dispatch Cabo Verde 3-2 in a match that tested Argentina's composure and resolve far more than the scoreline might suggest.
Argentina struck first through Lionel Messi at the half-hour mark, establishing what looked like a comfortable position. But Cabo Verde, making their World Cup debut, refused to accept the role of convenient opponent. Deroy Duarte equalized in the 59th minute, and when the whistle blew at 90 minutes, the match remained locked at 1-1, forcing both teams into extra time.
The additional 30 minutes belonged to Argentina, though not without drama. Lisandro Martinez restored the reigning champions' lead in the 92nd minute, pushing them toward the finish line. Yet Cabo Verde struck again—Sidny Lopes Cabral found the net in the 103rd minute to level the score once more at 2-2. The island nation's players and supporters had to sense something extraordinary was within reach.
The breakthrough came through misfortune rather than brilliance. Diney, a Cabo Verde defender, diverted the ball into his own net, and Argentina's path to the Round of 16 was finally secured. Messi, who had opened the scoring and orchestrated much of Argentina's attacking play, was named man of the match. The goal was his seventh of the tournament.
Argentina's next opponent is Egypt, whom they will face on July 7 in Atlanta. The match against Cabo Verde served as a reminder that even the favorites must earn their advancement, and that the 2026 World Cup has no shortage of teams willing to make their mark on the sport's grandest stage. Across the Round of 32, only two African nations—Morocco and Egypt—survived to the knockout round, with Egypt's path now leading directly to the reigning champions.
Notable Quotes
Messi was named man of the match as he reached the 7th goal of the championship— Match officials
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why did Argentina struggle so much against a team making their World Cup debut?
Cabo Verde came to Miami with nothing to lose and everything to prove. They were organized, they fought for every ball, and they had the tactical discipline to stay compact. Argentina couldn't break them down in normal time.
Was Messi's performance the difference?
Messi scored first and set the tone, but he wasn't the hero at the end. An own goal decided it. That's the thing about extra time—sometimes the best player on the field doesn't get the final say.
What does this tell us about Argentina's form heading into the knockout stage?
They won, but they were tested. Egypt will have watched this match closely. Argentina can be beaten if you're willing to work hard enough and stay disciplined.
How significant is it that only two African teams made it through?
It's a reality check. The gap between the traditional powers and the rest is still substantial. Cabo Verde pushed one of the best teams in the world to extra time and nearly pulled off the upset. That's progress, even in defeat.