Will Cape Verde Be Spain’s Call to Action Like Saudi Arabia Was for Argentina in the Last World Cup?

Spain stumbled in their debut, and Cape Verde took advantage with the historic draw, reminiscent of the Saudi blow to Argentina in Qatar 2022.

Spain's draw and similarities with Argentina

Cape Verde's draw against Spain in the 2026 World Cup left a feeling that goes beyond the numbers. A debutant team, with no previous World Cup experience, managed to halt one of the top contenders and cast doubt on the true level of the Iberian squad. The inevitable comparison refers to what happened in Qatar 2022, when Saudi Arabia surprised the entire planet by defeating Argentina 2-1, who arrived as the champions of America and with an unbeaten streak of 36 matches.

A bucket of cold water

Back then, the Saudi blow was a wake-up call that forced Lionel Messi's team to rethink their path. The penalty converted by the Argentine captain seemed to set the stage for a calm debut, but Saudi Arabia's reaction in the second half changed the story: first, Saleh Al-Shehri equalized with a left-footed cross shot, and then Salem Al-Dawsari sealed the feat with a stunning goal from outside the box. The defense and goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais held the lead until the end, sparking a historic celebration in Riyadh.

The international press labeled that result as one of the biggest surprises in World Cup history, comparable to Cameroon beating Argentina in 1990 or Senegal defeating France in 2002. For Argentina, however, that defeat became a turning point; the team strengthened, corrected mistakes, and ended up lifting the World Cup in Lusail.

Could they use this to their advantage?

Today, with Cape Verde's draw, Spain could be facing a similar scenario. An unexpected result that forces a review of strategies, adjustments to details, and an understanding that in the World Cup, there are no minor opponents. Just as Saudi Arabia woke up Argentina in 2022, Cape Verde can become the reminder that glory demands maximum concentration from the very first minute.

The lingering question is whether Spain will be able to turn this setback into momentum, as Argentina did, or if the African debutant will have marked the beginning of a more complex path than expected for those led by Luis de la Fuente.