Argentina vs Cape Verde Islands, Worldcup 2026 LAST 32
Overview
Match Preview
Argentina vs Cape Verde Islands — Worldcup at Hard Rock Stadium.
- Argentina 3 games · 9 pts (2026/26)
- Cape Verde Islands 3 games · 3 pts (2026/26)
Match Details
- Referee Drew Fischer
- Assistant 1 Michael Barwegen (USA)
- Assistant 2 Lyes Arfa
17 games this season
🟨 2.6/game
⚽ 11.2 goals/game
🟥 1 total
Standings
| # | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 3 | 9 |
| 2 | South Africa | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | South Korea | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Czechia | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 3 | 7 |
| 6 | Canada | 3 | 4 |
| 7 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | Qatar | 3 | 1 |
| 9 | Brazil | 3 | 7 |
| 10 | Morocco | 3 | 7 |
| 11 | Scotland | 3 | 3 |
| 12 | Haiti | 3 | 0 |
| 13 | United States | 3 | 6 |
| 14 | Australia | 3 | 4 |
| 15 | Paraguay | 3 | 4 |
| 16 | Turkey | 3 | 3 |
| 17 | Germany | 3 | 6 |
| 18 | Ivory Coast | 3 | 6 |
| 19 | Ecuador | 3 | 4 |
| 20 | Curaçao | 3 | 1 |
| 21 | Netherlands | 3 | 7 |
| 22 | Japan | 3 | 5 |
| 23 | Sweden | 3 | 4 |
| 24 | Tunisia | 3 | 0 |
| 25 | Belgium | 3 | 5 |
| 26 | Egypt | 3 | 5 |
| 27 | Iran | 3 | 3 |
| 28 | New Zealand | 3 | 1 |
| 29 | Spain | 3 | 7 |
| 30 | Cape Verde Islands | 3 | 3 |
| 31 | Uruguay | 3 | 2 |
| 32 | Saudi Arabia | 3 | 2 |
| 33 | France | 3 | 9 |
| 34 | Norway | 3 | 6 |
| 35 | Senegal | 3 | 3 |
| 36 | Iraq | 3 | 0 |
| 37 | Argentina | 3 | 9 |
| 38 | Austria | 3 | 4 |
| 39 | Algeria | 3 | 4 |
| 40 | Jordan | 3 | 0 |
| 41 | Colombia | 3 | 7 |
| 42 | Portugal | 3 | 5 |
| 43 | Congo DR | 3 | 4 |
| 44 | Uzbekistan | 3 | 0 |
| 45 | England | 3 | 7 |
| 46 | Croatia | 3 | 6 |
| 47 | Ghana | 3 | 4 |
| 48 | Panama | 3 | 0 |
Head-to-Head
Last 5 meetings
Recent Form
Season Stats
| Argentina | Cape Verde Islands | |
|---|---|---|
| #37 | Position | #30 |
| 9 | Points | 3 |
| 3 | Played | 3 |
| 3 / 0 / 0 | W / D / L | 0 / 3 / 0 |
| 8 | Scored | 2 |
| 1 | Conceded | 2 |
| +7 | GD | +0 |
| 3.00 | PPG | 1.00 |
| 100% | Win % | 0% |
Key Stats
100%
Both Teams to Score
H2H (1 games)
H2H (1 games)
100%
Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
H2H history
25%
Clean Sheets
Argentina this season
Argentina this season
50%
Clean Sheets
Cape Verde Islands this season
Cape Verde Islands this season
Argentina are 37th (9 pts). Cape Verde Islands are 30th (3 pts).
Goal Timing (This Season)
Argentina
0-15
1/1
16-30
3/–
31-45
2/–
46-60
1/3
61-75
–/2
76+
12/2
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Cape Verde Islands
0-15
–/–
16-30
1/1
31-45
–/2
46-60
1/–
61-75
1/–
76+
1/2
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Top Scorers (This Season)
Argentina
| Lionel Messi | 8 G | 4 A |
| Lautaro Martinez | 3 G | 1 A |
Events
Match Events
- 0' The match kicks off with home fans waiting with anticipation for Argentina to score. At the same time, Cape Verde Islands does not seem to pull back! Let’s get it on!
- 5' Argentina are enjoying more possession but struggling to find a way through a disciplined Cape Verde Islands backline.
- 10' Enzo Fernandez is putting in a real shift tonight. He has covered more ground than anyone else for Cape Verde Islands so far.
- 15' The midfield battle is intense right now. Both Argentina and Cape Verde Islands are fighting for every inch of the pitch.
- 20' Argentina international Christian Romero has been a key figure this campaign — 2 goals and 0 assists in the Array this season.
- 25' We are waiting for someone to take the initiative. Who will be the first to commit to attack?
- 29' What a strike from Lionel Messi! The score is 1-0.
- 34' will be watching from the dugout nervously. His Argentina side need to improve if they are to claim all three points.
- 39' Neither side is committing men forward. This has all the hallmarks of a tense, tactical contest.
- 44' Argentina are happy to let the opposition have the ball in their own half. The trap is set.
- 49' The Array continues to deliver drama. Both Argentina and Cape Verde Islands are desperate not to drop points on matchday .
- 54' While players are taking a pause, let’s have a look at their stats. The teams met 1 times this season with Argentina winning 100% of all matches.
- 59' What an equalizer from Deroy Duarte!
- 64' A tactical swap from Argentina — Julian Alvarez on, Lautaro Martinez off on 64 minutes.
- 67' Laros Duarte makes way for Jamiro Monteiro at the 67 minute mark. A tactical switch from Cape Verde Islands.
- 68' The referee does not hesitate — a card for Kevin Pina on 68 minutes.
- 73' The tempo has dropped considerably in the last few minutes. Bubista will be considering his options from the bench.
- 78' Both teams are passing the ball around with high level of urgency. Argentina needs to do something about it to get closer to the goal.
- 80' Helio Varela has so much to prove this time. He replaces Jovane Cabral on 80 minute.
- 84' Argentina make a change. Rodrigo de Paul trudges off to be replaced by Leandro Paredes on 84 minutes.
- 85' Argentina make a change. Facundo Medina trudges off to be replaced by Nicolas Tagliafico on 85 minutes.
- 90' It looks like no one’s ball. Cape Verde Islands is used to counterattacking playing. None of the sides are ready to take the lead.
- 3-2 the final result. Cape Verde Islands will be bitterly disappointed.
Lineups
Argentina Lineups
4-1-2-3Starting XI
- 23
- 10
- 22
- 7
- 20
- 25
- 13
- 6
-
26
Nahuel Molina ↓ Gonzalo Montiel 104'
- 16
- 24
Bench
- 19
-
3
Nicolas Tagliafico ↑ 85'
-
15
Nicolas Gonzalez ↑ 64'
- 12
- 11
- 1
-
5
Leandro Paredes ↑ 84'
- 14
-
4
Gonzalo Montiel ↑ 104'
- 2
-
9
Julian Alvarez ↑ 64'
- 8
- 21
- 17
- 18
Coach
Lionel Scaloni
Cape Verde Islands Lineups
4-1-4-1Starting XI
- 1
- 3
- 4
- 13
- 22
-
6
Kevin Pina ↓ Gilson Tavares 100'
-
14
Deroy Duarte ↓ Yannick Semedo 100'
-
15
Laros Duarte ↓ Jamiro Monteiro 67'
-
7
Jovane Cabral ↓ Helio Varela 80'
-
20
Ryan Mendes ↓ Willy Semedo 80'
- 21
Bench
- 12
- 23
- 2
- 5
- 24
- 25
- 8
-
10
Jamiro Monteiro ↑ 67'
- 11
-
16
Yannick Semedo ↑ 100'
- 18
-
9
Gilson Tavares ↑ 100'
-
17
Willy Semedo ↑ 80'
-
19
Dailon Rocha Livramento ↑ 67'
-
26
Helio Varela ↑ 80'
Coach
Bubista
H2H
H2H Top Scorers
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Deroy Duarte | 1 |
| Sidny Lopes Cabral | 1 |
| Lionel Messi | 1 |
| Christian Romero | 1 |
| Lisandro Martinez | 1 |
Head to Head
Argentina Form
Predictions
Prediction accuracy
4 / 4
2.14
Argentina xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
0.93
Cape Verde Islands xG
I would bet for:
Argentina to win 63% + Over 2.5 goals 58%
Match Result
✓ CorrectActual: Argentina win
Both Teams to Score
✓ Correct
Avg goals/match: 3.07
Actual: Yes — both scored
Over / Under Goals
✓ O/U 2.5| Line | Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ± 0.5 | 94% |
|
6% |
| ± 1.5 | 81% |
|
19% |
| ± 2.5 | 58% |
|
42% |
| ± 3.5 | 36% |
|
64% |
| ± 4.5 | 20% |
|
80% |
Double Chance
Argentina or Draw
84%
Draw or Cape Verde Islands
37%
Argentina or Cape Verde Islands
78%
Half-Time Result
✓ CorrectActual: Argentina win at HT
Correct Score
✗ 3–2 not predicted3 – 2Actual
2 – 0
10.5%
1 – 1
10%
2 – 1
9.5%
1 – 0
9.4%
3 – 0
7.3%
3 – 1
6.8%
0 – 0
6.3%
2 – 2
4.4%
1 – 2
4.1%
4 – 0
3.9%
4 – 1
3.7%
0 – 1
3.6%
Asian Handicap — Argentina
| Handicap | Argentina covers | Push | Cape Verde Islands covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | 21% | — | 79% |
| -2 | 21% | 19% | 59% |
| -1.5 | 41% | — | 59% |
| -1 | 41% | 23% | 36% |
| -0.5 | 64% | — | 36% |
| +0.5 | 86% | — | 14% |
| +1 | 86% | 9% | 5% |
| +1.5 | 95% | — | 5% |
| +2 | 95% | 4% | 1% |
| +2.5 | 99% | — | 1% |
Clean Sheet
Argentina keeps clean sheet
40%
✓
Cape Verde Islands keeps clean sheet
13%
✓
Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.