Cape Verde Islands vs Saudi Arabia, Worldcup 2026 GROUP STAGE
Overview
Match Preview
Cape Verde Islands vs Saudi Arabia — Worldcup at NRG Stadium.
- Cape Verde Islands 3 games · 3 pts (2026/26)
- Saudi Arabia 3 games · 2 pts (2026/26)
Match Details
- Referee Francois Letexier
- Assistant 1 Cyril Mugnier
- Assistant 2 Mehdi Rahmouni
20 games this season
🟨 2.7/game
⚽ 6.8 goals/game
🟥 2 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 | Curacao | 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
| Cape Verde Islands | Saudi Arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| #30 | Position | #32 |
| 3 | Points | 2 |
| 3 | Played | 3 |
| 0 / 3 / 0 | W / D / L | 0 / 2 / 1 |
| 2 | Scored | 1 |
| 2 | Conceded | 5 |
| +0 | GD | -4 |
| 1.00 | PPG | 0.67 |
| 0% | Win % | 0% |
Key Stats
0%
Both Teams to Score
H2H (1 games)
H2H (1 games)
0%
Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
H2H history
67%
Clean Sheets
Cape Verde Islands this season
Cape Verde Islands this season
33%
Clean Sheets
Saudi Arabia this season
Saudi Arabia this season
Cape Verde Islands are 30th (3 pts). Saudi Arabia are 32nd (2 pts).
Goal Timing (This Season)
Cape Verde Islands
0-15
–/–
16-30
1/–
31-45
–/2
46-60
–/–
61-75
1/–
76+
–/–
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Saudi Arabia
0-15
–/1
16-30
–/2
31-45
1/–
46-60
–/–
61-75
–/–
76+
–/1
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Events
Match Events
- 0' Packed stands, loud atmosphere — Cape Verde Islands and Saudi Arabia get this one started.
- 4' A meaty challenge results in booking for Saud Abdulhamid on 4.
- 9' The referee reaches into his pocket. Out comes the card for Wagner Pina.
- 14' Roberto Lopes is putting in a real shift tonight. He has covered more ground than anyone else for Cape Verde Islands so far.
- 19' The referee is likely to let players tackle, as he already missed some meaty challenges during opening seconds. He is still to establish what should not be done by the players and what is acceptable on the pitch. It’s going to be a tough game for Ryan Mendes suffering a number of foals already.
- 24' With 0 assists to his name this season, Firas Al Brikan is clearly more than just a goal scorer for Saudi Arabia.
- 29' The home supporters are growing impatient. Cape Verde Islands must find a spark to ignite this game.
- 33' Ali Lajami has so much to prove this time. He replaces Hassan Al Tambakti on 33 minute.
- 38' The referee has had an easy afternoon — neither side has been overly physical in the tackle.
- 43' Both keepers have barely been tested. Cape Verde Islands and Saudi Arabia are cancelling each other out in the centre of the park.
- 46' The Saudi Arabia bench stirs into life. Abdullah Al Khaibari is withdrawn and Musab Al Juwayr gets his opportunity.
- 51' named a 4-1-2-3 earlier, and opted for a 4-4-2 in response. A fascinating tactical duel is developing.
- 56' The Array continues to deliver drama. Both Cape Verde Islands and Saudi Arabia are desperate not to drop points on matchday .
- 61' Another substitution for Cape Verde Islands to replace Dailon Rocha Livramento by Nuno Da Costa on 61 minute.
- 65' Time for substitution for Saudi Arabia. Salem Al Dawsari is replaced by Mohammed Abu Al Shamat.
- 66' Another substitution for Saudi Arabia to replace Sultan Mandash by Abdullah Al-Hamdan on 66 minute.
- 67' Saudi Arabia player sees a card in front of him.
- 71' Fresh legs for Cape Verde Islands! Garry Rodrigues comes on to replace Ryan Mendes.
- 76' We are waiting for someone to take the initiative. Who will be the first to commit to attack?
- 81' Sultan Mandash has been disciplined this evening — perhaps mindful of those 0 cards already picked up this season.
- 82' Another change for Saudi Arabia made on 82 minute. Nawaf Boushal leaves to be changed by Moteb Al Harbi.
- 87' Cape Verde Islands started playing very sharply right from the kick off. However, it slowed down the tempo rapidly by 87.
- 90' Controversy at the stadium! Firas Al Brikan argues furiously but the card stands.
- Game over. The scoreline of 0-0 tells the full story of an entertaining encounter.
Lineups
Cape Verde Islands Lineups
4-1-2-3Starting XI
- 1
- 3
- 4
- 24
- 14
- 8
-
10
Jamiro Monteiro ↓ Laros Duarte 71'
- 6
- 19
-
20
Ryan Mendes ↓ Garry Rodrigues 71'
-
17
Willy Semedo ↓ Helio Varela 61'
Bench
- 23
- 12
- 5
- 22
- 25
- 2
-
15
Laros Duarte ↑ 71'
-
11
Garry Rodrigues ↑ 71'
- 16
-
26
Helio Varela ↑ 61'
- 7
-
21
Nuno Da Costa ↑ 61'
- 9
Coach
Bubista
Saudi Arabia Lineups
4-4-2Starting XI
- 21
- 12
- 4
-
5
Hassan Al Tambakti ↓ Ali Lajami 33'
-
13
Nawaf Boushal ↓ Moteb Al Harbi 82'
- 6
- 10
- 15
- 23
- 9
- 20
Bench
- 1
- 22
-
24
Moteb Al Harbi ↑ 82'
- 14
-
3
Ali Lajami ↑ 33'
- 2
- 25
- 18
- 16
-
7
Musab Al Juwayr ↑ 46'
-
26
Mohammed Abu Al Shamat ↑ 65'
- 8
- 17
-
19
Abdullah Al-Hamdan ↑ 66'
- 11
Coach
Giorgios Donis
H2H
Head to Head
Cape Verde Islands Form
Predictions
Prediction accuracy
3 / 4
0.71
Cape Verde Islands xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
0.3
Saudi Arabia xG
I would bet for:
Under 2.5 goals 91% + Under — clean sheet likely 85%
Match Result
✗ WrongActual: Draw
Both Teams to Score
✓ Correct
Avg goals/match: 1.01
Actual: No — clean sheet
Over / Under Goals
✓ O/U 2.5| Line | Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ± 0.5 | 61% |
|
39% |
| ± 1.5 | 28% |
|
72% |
| ± 2.5 | 9% |
|
91% |
| ± 3.5 | 3% |
|
97% |
| ± 4.5 | 1% |
|
99% |
Double Chance
Cape Verde Islands or Draw
84%
Draw or Saudi Arabia
58%
Cape Verde Islands or Saudi Arabia
58%
Half-Time Result
✓ CorrectActual: Draw at HT
Correct Score
✓ In top 12
0 – 0
Actual
1 – 0
24.1%
0 – 1
9%
1 – 1
8.9%
2 – 0
8.3%
2 – 1
3.2%
3 – 0
1.9%
0 – 2
1.3%
1 – 2
1.2%
3 – 1
0.8%
2 – 2
0.6%
4 – 0
0.4%
Asian Handicap — Cape Verde Islands
| Handicap | Cape Verde Islands covers | Push | Saudi Arabia covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | 3% | — | 97% |
| -2 | 3% | 9% | 88% |
| -1.5 | 12% | — | 88% |
| -1 | 12% | 28% | 61% |
| -0.5 | 39% | — | 61% |
| +0.5 | 88% | — | 12% |
| +1 | 88% | 10% | 2% |
| +1.5 | 98% | — | 2% |
| +2 | 98% | 1% | 0% |
| +2.5 | 100% | — | 0% |
Clean Sheet
Cape Verde Islands keeps clean sheet
74%
✓
Saudi Arabia keeps clean sheet
50%
✗
Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.