Saudi Arabia 0 – 0 Cape Verde

WORLDCUP · June 27, 2026 · Final

🎧 Post-Game Report (audio)

Post-Game Recap

Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde played to a goalless draw at the twenty twenty-six World Cup, finishing nil-nil in a match that never quite delivered the breakthrough either side needed but had plenty of tension underneath the surface.

Cape Verde were the sharper side going forward, putting up fifteen shots to Saudi Arabia's seven, and they had the better of the possession battle in the second half as they pushed for something to separate themselves. Kevin Pina led the attacking effort with two total shots, the closest the Blue Sharks came to breaking the deadlock. But Saudi Arabia made them work for every inch, committing sixteen fouls and picking up three yellow cards as they refused to give Cape Verde any room to breathe.

On the other end, João Paulo was extraordinary in his own box, recording thirteen defensive interventions — that man was everywhere. Vozinha made three saves in goal to keep the sheet clean, and frankly, Saudi Arabia will feel they owe him. Nasser Al-Dawsari tried to make things happen in midfield with forty-nine accurate passes, but Saudi Arabia generated almost nothing going forward — just one total shot from Saud Abdulhamid all night. Diney Borges controlled the tempo for Cape Verde with fifty-six accurate passes, dictating without ever quite converting that control into a goal.

Cape Verde outplayed Saudi Arabia for long stretches and still couldn't find the net — that's the story of this one. That's your post-game report. Sports Desk, signing off.

AI-generated post-game report composed from the official play-by-play and box score.

Complete Play-by-Play

Show all 113 plays

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

First Half begins.

Foul by Saud Abdulhamid (Saudi Arabia). 4'

João Paulo (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 4'

Saud Abdulhamid (Saudi Arabia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 4'

Foul by Mohamed Kanno (Saudi Arabia). 7'

Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 7'

Sultan Mandash (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 7'

Foul by Willy Semedo (Cabo Verde). 7'

Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick on the left wing. 8'

Foul by Wagner Pina (Cabo Verde). 8'

Wagner Pina (Cabo Verde) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 8'

Delay in match (Cabo Verde). 13'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 13'

João Paulo (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 13'

Foul by Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia). 13'

Attempt blocked. Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Saud Abdulhamid with a cross. 18'

Foul by Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde). 18'

Nawaf Bu Washl (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick on the left wing. 18'

Attempt missed. Willy Semedo (Cabo Verde) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Deroy Duarte. 22'

Corner, Cabo Verde. Conceded by Mohammed Al Owais. 22'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 24'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 27'

Foul by Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia). 28'

Willy Semedo (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 28'

Delay in match because of an injury Hassan Al Tambakti (Saudi Arabia). 30'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 33'

Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Ali Lajami replaces Hassan Al Tambakti because of an injury. 33'

Attempt blocked. Jamiro Monteiro (Cabo Verde) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Willy Semedo. 34'

Abdullah Al Khaibari (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 34'

Foul by Willy Semedo (Cabo Verde). 34'

Ali Lajami (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 35'

Foul by Jamiro Monteiro (Cabo Verde). 35'

Wagner Pina (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick on the right wing. 36'

Foul by Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia). 36'

Foul by Mohamed Kanno (Saudi Arabia). 37'

Deroy Duarte (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 37'

Corner, Cabo Verde. Conceded by Abdullah Al Khaibari. 38'

Attempt missed. João Paulo (Cabo Verde) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jamiro Monteiro with a cross following a corner. 39'

VAR Decision: Other Decision Cancelled. 39'

Foul by Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia). 41'

Wagner Pina (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick on the right wing. 41'

Attempt missed. Willy Semedo (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. 42'

Abdullah Al Khaibari (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 45'

Foul by Ryan Mendes (Cabo Verde). 45'

Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time. 45'

Attempt saved. Mohamed Kanno (Saudi Arabia) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Vozinha (Cabo Verde). Assisted by Abdulelah Al Amri. 45'+2'

Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick on the left wing. 45'+3'

Foul by Jamiro Monteiro (Cabo Verde). 45'+3'

Attempt blocked. Saud Abdulhamid (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. 45'+4'

First Half ends, Cabo Verde 0, Saudi Arabia 0. 45'+7'

Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Musab Al Juwayr replaces Abdullah Al Khaibari. 45'

Second Half begins Cabo Verde 0, Saudi Arabia 0. 45'

Corner, Saudi Arabia. Conceded by João Paulo. 46'

Attempt missed. Abdulelah Al Amri (Saudi Arabia) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner. 47'

Foul by Sultan Mandash (Saudi Arabia). 48'

Willy Semedo (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 48'

Attempt saved. Jamiro Monteiro (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Mohammed Al Owais (Saudi Arabia). Assisted by Wagner Pina. 48'

Attempt missed. Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Ryan Mendes. 50'

Handball by Mohamed Kanno (Saudi Arabia). 53'

Attempt blocked. Ryan Mendes (Cabo Verde) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Wagner Pina. 53'

Foul by Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia). 55'

Pico Lopes (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 55'

Corner, Cabo Verde. Conceded by Saud Abdulhamid. 56'

Attempt missed. Deroy Duarte (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. 57'

Substitution, Cabo Verde. Nuno da Costa replaces Dailon Livramento. 61'

Substitution, Cabo Verde. Hélio Varela replaces Willy Semedo. 61'

Sultan Mandash (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 63'

Foul by Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde). 63'

Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Mohammed Abu Al Shamat replaces Salem Al Dawsari. 66'

Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Abdullah Al Hamddan replaces Sultan Mandash. 66'

Foul by Saud Abdulhamid (Saudi Arabia). 66'

Hélio Varela (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 66'

Attempt saved. Mohammed Abu Al Shamat (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top left corner by Vozinha (Cabo Verde). Assisted by Musab Al Juwayr. 67'

Foul by Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia). 67'

Nuno da Costa (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 67'

Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 67'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 69'

Substitution, Cabo Verde. Laros Duarte replaces Jamiro Monteiro. 71'

Substitution, Cabo Verde. Garry Rodrigues replaces Ryan Mendes. 71'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 72'

Feras Al Brikan (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick on the right wing. 73'

Foul by Diney Borges (Cabo Verde). 73'

Attempt saved. Laros Duarte (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Mohammed Al Owais (Saudi Arabia). Assisted by Nuno da Costa with a through ball. 74'

Corner, Cabo Verde. Conceded by Mohammed Al Owais. 75'

Attempt missed. Pico Lopes (Cabo Verde) header from the right side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Laros Duarte with a cross following a corner. 75'

Corner, Saudi Arabia. Conceded by João Paulo. 76'

Foul by Abdullah Al Hamddan (Saudi Arabia). 77'

Wagner Pina (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 77'

Attempt blocked. João Paulo (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Hélio Varela. 77'

Saud Abdulhamid (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 77'

Foul by Hélio Varela (Cabo Verde). 77'

Attempt blocked. Garry Rodrigues (Cabo Verde) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Laros Duarte. 79'

Foul by Abdullah Al Hamddan (Saudi Arabia). 81'

Pico Lopes (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 81'

Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Moteb Al Harbi replaces Nawaf Bu Washl. 82'

Attempt blocked. Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Feras Al Brikan. 83'

Attempt missed. Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. 84'

Attempt missed. Nuno da Costa (Cabo Verde) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Garry Rodrigues with a headed pass. 85'

Attempt blocked. Wagner Pina (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Laros Duarte. 86'

Offside, Cabo Verde. Garry Rodrigues is caught offside. 86'

VAR Decision: Other Decision Cancelled. 88'

Foul by Mohamed Kanno (Saudi Arabia). 90'

Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 90'

Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. 90'

Attempt saved. Abdullah Al Hamddan (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Vozinha (Cabo Verde). Assisted by Feras Al Brikan. 90'+2'

Foul by Feras Al Brikan (Saudi Arabia). 90'+3'

João Paulo (Cabo Verde) wins a free kick on the left wing. 90'+3'

Feras Al Brikan (Saudi Arabia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 90'+3'

Substitution, Cabo Verde. Steven Moreira replaces Wagner Pina. 90'+4'

Offside, Cabo Verde. Garry Rodrigues is caught offside. 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Cabo Verde 0, Saudi Arabia 0. 90'+6'

Match ends, Cabo Verde 0, Saudi Arabia 0.