Cape Verde stuns Spain in 2026 World Cup opener as goalkeeper Vozinha keeps clean sheet.

Vozinha's historic achievement

According to Novyny.live: In a stunning debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha became the hero of his team's first match by not conceding a single goal against Spain—a remarkable feat. The Cape Verdean national team managed to secure one point from the match against the formidable Spanish side, showcasing impressive resilience and endurance.

Throughout the game, Vozinha displayed extraordinary skill, making seven saves to keep his goal untouched. Notably, Cape Verde had only 26% ball possession, yet that did not prevent them from performing at a high level. This result set a World Cup record dating back to 1966, underscoring the significance of the achievement.

Match highlights

Another standout detail: Mikel Oyarzabal became the first player since the 1966 World Cup to not touch the ball at all during the first 30 minutes of a match, further highlighting Cape Verde's defensive dominance. Vozinha, who plays for Chaves in the Portuguese second division, gained massive popularity after this game. His Instagram follower count skyrocketed from 50,000 to 5.7 million in just one day, reflecting the global interest in his performance and personality.

Cape Verde's next match is against Uruguay on June 22, where the team will look to build on their success on the world stage.

This match marked a milestone not only for Cape Verde but for global football as a whole: a team with little prior international experience managed to halt one of the tournament favorites. Vozinha's and his team's success will undoubtedly inspire further development of football in Cape Verde and draw attention from scouts and clubs abroad to talented players from the region.