FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group H Trivia Quiz

Answer: 0-0

Spain did the majority of the attacking in the first half as was expected, but due to some dogged defending and some great work from their keeper Vozinha, Cabo Verde went to the break even at 0-0. At the 90-minute mark it was still goalless, and a boilover was on the cards. Cabo Verde won a corner and when the cross came over, Diney Borges had a free header, which unfortunately went straight into the hands of Unai Simon.

A nation of 500,000 people had held the great Spain to a goalless draw. This is the sort of result that makes the World Cup all worthwhile for the smaller teams, this is what they aspire to. The joy on their supporters' faces at full time was worth watching just for that moment!

A side note to all the elitists out there who maintain that only the strongest countries should compete at the World Cup Finals: suck it up, sunshines! We still got to see the strongest countries, but we also got to see performances like this, which are good for the health of the game, and are the sorts of games that help the smaller countries develop.

Cabo Verde's keeper Vozinha became the oldest keeper to keep a clean sheet on his World Cup Finals debut.

Answer: 1-1

Prior to this match, Uruguay had only one victory in their last eight opening World Cup Finals matches (1-0 over Egypt in 2018). This was Saudi Arabia's 20th Finals match, yet only the fourth time they had scored first. At a single day shy of 40 years of age, Fernando Muslera became the oldest player Uruguayan to play at a World Cup, passing Diego Godin's previous record by more than three years.

Answer: Four

Perhaps stinging from the criticism of surrendering two points to the might of Cabo Verde in their previous game (a 0-0 draw), Spain started this game well, on the front foot. Ten minutes had elapsed when Mikel Oyarzabal drilled a low cross from the left to the far post where Lamine Yamal slid to guide the ball home. In the 21st minute, it was Oyarzabal himself who poked the ball into the net after a goalmouth scramble. Two minutes later, it was Oyarzabal again, this time side-footing a volley in at the far post, 3-0 to Spain. In the 36th minute, Oyarzabal was a crossbar away from his hat trick with his side foot effort after a poor clearance from the Saudi keeper, Mohammed Alowais. 3-0 at half time.

In the 49th minute, Marc Cucurella volleyed at the far post after a flick on from a corner. Alowais blocked it, but it rebounded intro the net off Hassan Atambakti for an own goal, 4-0 to Spain. In the 81st minute, Spain's keeper Unai Emery saved well from a soft shot, the ball transitioned to the other end and a cross was met by the stomach of Feras Albrikan, which forced his keeper, Alowais into a flying save. In the 2nd minute of stoppage time, Ferran Torres scored with a tap in but the goal was disallowed for offside. For reasons unclear, VAR took a long time to determine what seemed like a pretty clear decision. Final score was 4-0 to Spain.

Answer: Two

The match started off with Uruguay having slightly the better of play, but in the 21st minute Cabo Verde were awarded a free kick about 30 metres out centrally. Kevin Pina blasted a turf-cutter through the middle of the two-man wall past the outstretched hand of the keeper Fernando Muslera, to score Cabo Verde's first ever World Cup Finals goal. In the 44th minute, a defender's misplaced header hit the post, but Maxi Araujo was the first to react, diving to head home the rebound. Then in the last minute of five minutes' first half stoppage time, Agustin Canobbio scored with a calmly taken goal after the ball was flicked onto him in the area. 2-1 to Uruguay at half time.

In the 61st minute, Cabo substitute Helio Varela pounced on a poor backpass, got to the ball before Muslera who came running out, and then passed the ball into the unguarded net from distance. In the 68th minute Uruguay had the ball in the goal after a scramble, but the previous pass had come from a player in an offside position.

At the 85-minute mark, the score was still 2-2. Two defensive blocks in quick succession kept Uruguay out. More attacking saw a free kick awarded just outside the area, but Federico Valverde put it over the bar. In the 3rd minute of stoppage time, Canobbio was sent clear but blazed over the bar as well. The match finished 2-2. The result left the two sides two points behind Spain with one match left to play.

This match was the first time that two goalkeepers aged in their forties, Uruguay's Fernando Muslera and Vozinha of Cabo Verde, started a World Cup finals game.

Answer: Agustin Canobbio (Uruguay)

In the 2nd minute Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal's cross took a deflection and went just wide of the post. In the 6th minute Spain's keeper Unai Simon dropped a cross, but the ball was cleared. In the 19th minute Oyarzabal's run into the penalty area was thwarted by a last ditch challenge. In the 23rd minute Marcos Llorente's cross fell to Mikel Moreno but it got away from him and the Uruguayan goalie Fernando Muslera dropped on it. After 28 minutes, Darwin Nunez crossed and the ball was saved by Simon. In the 31st minute, Rodrigo Bentancur's cross rolled harmlessly across the area under no attacking threat. In the 36th minute, Bentancur's long range effort sailed over. In the 41st minute, Llorente's cross found Alex Baena around the penalty spot. His swivel and turn shot really should have been saved, but the Uruguayan keeper Muslera made a hash of it, letting the ball bounce over his outstretched hands into the corner of the net. 1-0 to Spain. Undoubtedly, knowing Marcelo Bielsa's penchant for detail, Muslera will be given a two hour lecture on the art of goalkeeping, together with supporting spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. In the 8th minute of stoppage time, a cross into the middle was met by Nunez but Simon reacted well to save. Half time, 1-0 to Spain.

Second half and the Bielsa effect happened sooner than expected. Muslera had been replaced with Sergio Rochet. Bielsa is ruthless. In the 47th minute a Uruguayan free kick came to nothing. In the 48th minute, a through ball from Nicolas De La Cruz found Mathias Olivera but his header was pounced on by Simon. In the 63rd minute Lamine Yamal crossed low in the from the right to Dani Olmo, whose shot spooned up and wide of the Uruguayan goal. In the 81st minute Olivera tried to chip a cheeky disguised shot into the top corner and Simon just got there to save it. From the resulting corner, the ball was crossed in by Bentancur who overhit his cross. In the 85th minute, De La Cruz's long range effort was well held by Simon. In the 86th minute Ferran Torres played a lovely touch around his marker to leave him free in front of goal but his shot grazed the top of the crossbar. In the 4th minute of stoppage time, Agustin Canobbio put in a studs-up lunge on Joaquin Piquerez and was shown a straight red card. Full time, 1-0 to Spain. After the full time whistle, Canobbio came back onto the field to argue with the officials, what an idiot. Have a Bex and a good lie down.

As a result of this match, Spain topped the group and with Cape Verde, who drew with Saudi Arabia, they progressed to the Round of 32. Uruguay and Saudi Arabia were both eliminated.

Answer: 0-0 draw

In the first 15 minutes of the match there was a lot of huff and puff and endeavour from both countries, but almost no goalmouth action and zero attempts on goal. In the 18th minute Salam Aldawsari had a shot which was blocked by Wagner Pina. In the 22nd minute, Willie Semedo's shot to the near post was parried away for a corner by the Saudi keeper Mohammed Alowais. In the 28th minute Joao Paulo's cross was gathered easily by Alowais. In the 29th minute Dailon Livramento's cross went behind his team-mates in the area, and the danger passed. From the recycled ball, Joao Paulo's cross sailed behind at the far post.

In the 35th minute, Pina's cross was cleared by Abdulelah Al-Amri, who was fouled in the process. In the 39th minute a Cabo Verde corner was headed over by Joao Paulo. In the 42nd minute Semedo cracked a long range shot wide of the goal. In the 1st minute of stoppage time a cross from Mohamed Kanno came to nothing. From the recycled ball, Kanno's header was saved by the keeper Vozinha. It was the first Saudi effort on target during the match. In the 5th minute of stoppage time Ryan Mendes' low cross was cut out. Half time, score was 0-0.

In the 48th minute Pina pulled the ball back into the area for Livramento to shoot, but his effort was saved comfortably by Alowais. In the 50th minute, Mendes squared the ball for Pina who had a shot that just missed the top corner. In the 53rd minute, Mendes' surging run into the area was eventually blocked and cleared. In the 56th minute Semedo's cross was deflected behind for a corner. One minute later, Deroy Duarte put a long range shot wide. In the 67th minute Cabo Verde gave the ball away in midfield and Jehad Thikri attempted to chip Vozinha but the keeper stretched to save. After 69 minutes, Joao Paulo's cross was overhit and went out of play. In the 73rd minute a Musab Aljuwayr free kick from out wide was headed away to safety.

In the 74th minute Laros Duarte was put through on goal but his shot was smothered by Alowais. From the resulting corner, Nuno da Costa headed over. In the 76th minute Saud Abdulhamid's cross was blocked behind. In the 77th minute Joao Paulo's curving shot was blocked. In the 84th minute, Alowais spilled a cross and after a scramble, Joao Paulo shot wide. In the 85th minute da Costa did well to make space in the area, but his shot was blocked. In the 86th minute Pina's shot from the edge of the area was charged down and the rebound fell just out of Garry Rodriguez's reach. In the second minute of stoppage time, Abdullah Alhamddan was fed through on a one-two pass but his tame shot was straight at the keeper. In the last minute of stoppage time, Cabo Verde patiently built up down the right, it came to Rodriguez in the area who cut it back to da Costa who inexplicably placed his shot just wide of the post. Full time, score was 0-0.

As a result of this match, Cape Verde had defied all the odds by finishing second and with Spain, who defeated Uruguay and topped the group, they progressed to the Round of 32. Uruguay and Saudi Arabia were both eliminated.

Answer: Saudi Arabia

Spain first, no surprise there. The shock was Cape Verde finishing above Uruguay, though they deserved their spot based on how they played. The Saudis failed to impress but may have at least considered themselves being the equal of Cape Verde. Not so.

Answer: Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) and Maxi Araujo (Uruguay) jointly

Mikel Oyarzabal scored both of his goals for Spain on Matchday 2 against Saudi Arabia. Uruguay's Maxi Araujo scored one against Saudi Arabia on the opening day, and another in the next match against Cabo Verde. All other players scored single goals.
There was one own goal in the group, Saudi Arabia's Hassan Al-Tambakti scoring for Spain.

Answer: Spain

Not the group to be watching for goalscoring entertainment! Group winners Spain scored five, newcomers Cabo Verde three, Uruguay scored two and Saudi Arabia only scored once.

Answer: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia finished bottom of the group letting in five goals. They were closely followed by Uruguay with four, which ultimately became their downfall and ticket home. Cabo Verde amazingly only let in two in their tournament debut. Spain (along with Mexico in Group A) were the most miserly country across all groups - they conceded no goals at all.