Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia

No World Cup debutant has won its opening match since Senegal beat France in 2002.

Cape Verde, Curaçao, DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Uruguay are the six 2026 World Cup squads without a single player based at a club in their home country.

Cape Verde are unbeaten in their last 5 fixtures (including friendlies), going 2W-3D-0L with 9 goals scored and 3 goals conceded.

Cape Verde travel about 1,682 km from Miami to Houston for this match, moving 1 hour back.

Saudi Arabia have used just 17 different players across their first two matches — the joint-second-fewest of any team, level with DR Congo, England, New Zealand and Panama, behind only Uruguay and Norway's 16.

Saudi Arabia have won none of their last 4 World Cup matches, going 0W-1D-3L with 2 goals scored and 9 goals conceded.

Saudi Arabia have conceded in each of their last 18 World Cup matches, going 2W-3D-13L with 11 goals scored and 46 goals conceded. A repeat in their next match would be their longest such run in World Cup history.

Saudi Arabia have won 2 of their 5 World Cup matches against African teams (2W-2D-1L).

Saudi Arabia travel about 1,231 km from Atlanta to Houston for this match, moving 1 hour back.

Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia have never met at a FIFA World Cup. This will be their first World Cup encounter.

Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia have never met at a World Cup before — this is their first meeting.