Some games enter the history books through the front door and others through the back. This one came through the back: the New York Knicks trailed the San Antonio Spurs by 29 points and still won 107-106, the largest comeback ever in an NBA Finals.

To grasp the scale of it, the previous record belonged to the Boston Celtics, with a 24-point turnaround in the 2008 Finals. The Knicks went beyond that on one of sport’s most mythical stages, moving within a single win of the title at 3-1 in the series.

From drama to euphoria

Trailing by nearly 30 points in a Finals is usually a death sentence. But basketball has its quirks: a crushing run, a few impossible shots and, suddenly, a whole arena believing. San Antonio, who controlled much of the game, will have to digest one of the most painful defeats the sport allows.

For the Knicks and their fans, used to decades of deferred promises, the perfect scenario is set: the chance to close out the series and lift a trophy long overdue. The only question is whether the magic repeats in the next game.

See also: the Portuguese players’ start at Wimbledon. Official results and stats at nba.com.

Football doesn’t always serve up a show, and the goalless draw between Portugal and Colombia in Miami was one of those chess matches where neither side wanted to overcommit. Final score: 0-0, with the defences talking louder than the attacks. It won’t live long in the memory, but it doesn’t wreck the maths either — Portugal march on, eyes already on the next test.

Croatia waiting

The next chapter is on 3 July in Toronto, against Croatia. And that’s a different conversation. The Croatians are old hands at the latter stages, the kind of side that doesn’t always dazzle but rarely gets caught napping. It’ll demand more than what we saw in Miami: sharper final balls, sharper finishing.

The good news is the team looked solid at the back, and at a proper World Cup that’s worth its weight in gold. The bad news is goals are hard to come by — and against a side happy to soak up pressure and counter, Portugal will need to find the key to the lock.

What’s at stake

Toronto could shape much of Portugal’s run in this tournament. There’s talent to spare in the squad; now they just need the pieces to click at the right moment. Mark the date: 3 July, and may the ball go in this time. The national team’s official calendar is at fpf.pt.

See also: Wimbledon getting under way with Nuno Borges.

Today marks the start of what is, for many, the most beautiful tournament of the year. Wimbledon opened its doors this Monday, with the grass still fresh, the compulsory white, and the first main-draw matches rolling out in London.

For Portugal, all eyes are on Nuno Borges. The national number one takes the court on opening day against American Tristan Boyer, in a match that, on paper, is within his reach. Borges, 29, sits around the top 65 of the rankings and put together a solid grass-court build-up, with three wins in five matches pointing to good form on the circuit’s trickiest surface.

The second-round ghost

If he gets past this first round, a poisoned gift awaits: Jannik Sinner, the world number one, is the likely opponent in the second round. It’s not a tie to dream of winning, but the Portuguese has a strong serve and a game that bothers people — and on grass, where a well-placed serve decides points, nobody enjoys facing him.

Grass rewards bravery: short points, quick decisions, little time to think. It’s a surface that can shrink the gap between a top-10 player and someone further down, and that’s exactly where the Portuguese hope lives.

Whatever the result, having a Portuguese player open Wimbledon is reason enough to switch on the TV.

See also: the preview of the Portuguese at Wimbledon and the start of the World Cup knockouts. Live results on the official Wimbledon site.

The league is over, but football does not rest: the transfer season is open, and the big clubs are already moving pieces for 2026/27.

At Benfica, the big headache is central defence. With Nicolás Otamendi out of contract and refusing to renew, the club has chosen France’s Clément Lenglet to replace him. The 31-year-old international leaves Atlético Madrid after two seasons and brings the experience of someone who has played at the highest level. There are also departures to confirm, such as Henrique Araújo, and doubts over the future of youngsters like António Silva, a year from the end of his deal.

Sporting are busy too

At Alvalade, the focus is midfield. Sporting are closing in on Sergi Altimira from Betis, a deal that could open the exit door for captain Morten Hjulmand. Issa Doumbia has also arrived to add muscle to the area.

For the fan, this is the part of the year when you dream big and debate everything at the café counter: who stays, who goes, who is the signing still missing. The sagas will run for weeks, with twists, U-turns and that last-minute announcement nobody saw coming.

A word of caution, worth its weight in gold right now: until there is a photo with the scarf and an official signature, it is all transfer talk. We will follow what gets confirmed, not what gets rumoured.

See also: Porto and Braga strengthen too. More at Benfica’s official site.

The part with the maths and the scenarios is over. The 2026 World Cup today entered the phase where a bad day sends you home: the knockouts have begun.

With the new 48-team format, there is a brand-new round right at the start, the round of 32. The first match pitted South Africa against Canada at SoFi Stadium in California, kicking off three weeks that will produce a champion. From here on it all hurts: whoever loses packs the boots away.

And Portugal?

The national team secured passage and has a date set: it faces Croatia on July 2. After the goalless draw with Colombia, the side knows it is now entering the part of the tournament where details decide, a set piece, a moment of inspiration, a save in time.

Croatia is an old acquaintance of difficult nights and rarely makes it easy. But Portugal has plenty of arguments and an experienced group to dream of a long run. The secret, as always in knockouts, is to start focused from the first minute, because there is no second chance.

Mark the calendar, ready the nerves and the sofa: July promises nail-biting nights.

See also: Portugal draws Croatia in the round. Official schedule at FIFA.

The group stage is done, and now comes the part that costs you sleep. The round of 32 at World Cup 2026 kicks off on June 29, and the rule flips entirely: lose, and you pack your boots and go home. No friendly draws, no “we’ll get them next matchday”.

Portugal already know the path. After a goalless draw with Colombia, the side finished second in the group and have a date with Croatia on July 2 in Toronto. It’s a respected opponent, with a recent habit of going deep in these tournaments and making anyone suffer in extra time.

What to expect

Croatia are the kind of team the calendar doesn’t scare. They play through midfield, control the tempo and love dragging games to the end, where experience counts. Portugal, with a solid goal and decisive players up front, will need to impose their football early and not let the match drift onto the ground their rivals prefer.

For the fan, it’s the sort of game worth an afternoon glued to the screen. A knockout Portugal-Croatia is rarely dull, and the memory of past duels between these two promises tension to the final whistle.

From here, it’s all or nothing. And that’s what makes this stage the most beautiful, and the cruellest, of the whole World Cup.

See also: Portugal draw 0-0 with Colombia and land Croatia.

The transfer window is already heating up, and the big northern clubs aren’t sitting still. FC Porto, the reigning champions, bet on the future: they signed Oskar Pietuszewski, a Polish winger of just 17, from Jagiellonia Bialystok for around €10 million on a four-year deal.

It’s the kind of bet the Dragões know well: buy promising youngsters, give them a stage and, with luck, sell them for more down the line. Pietuszewski arrives with the talent label; now he has to deliver.

Braga bolster the midfield

Further north, SC Braga secured Demir Ege Tiknaz on a permanent deal from Besiktas, in a €7 million move plus a possible €500,000 bonus. The midfielder becomes a full-time Braga player after already knowing the house.

There are more sagas open, from Chelsea’s interest in Diogo Costa to the moves around Sporting players. Summer promises plenty.

See also: Otamendi’s exit from Benfica. Official confirmations on the FC Porto and SC Braga sites.

There were no goals, but there was drama to the last second. Portugal drew 0-0 with Colombia in Miami in their final Group K game, finishing the group stage second on five points, behind the Colombians, who had seven.

The moment that froze the Portuguese bench came in stoppage time: Davinson Sánchez headed the ball into the net from a corner, but the goal was ruled out for a wafer-thin offside. For Colombia, it left the curious note of recording their first-ever goalless draw at a World Cup.

What’s next

With qualification already secured before this game, the draw only settled placings. And it sets a demanding path: in the round of 32, Portugal face Croatia on 2 July. Old acquaintances, always tough to crack.

Cristiano Ronaldo and company will need to sharpen their finishing, because in the knockouts there’s no room for goalless draws. But the team is still alive, and that’s what counts.

See also: the Group K opponents and the rout of Uzbekistan. Official results at FIFA.

Some stories are hard to believe even as they unfold in front of you. Cape Verde, an archipelago of half a million people, didn’t just turn up to its first World Cup — it got through the group stage without losing a single game.

The clincher was a 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in Houston. Not the prettiest match, but the right result at the right moment — and with Spain beating Uruguay the way the table needed, the Blue Sharks finished second in the group and went through. Before that they had already drawn with Spain on their debut and held Uruguay. Three games, three points shared with heavyweights, zero defeats. For a first attempt, that is almost cheeky.

For Portuguese speakers, this run carries a special flavour. The squad leans heavily on the diaspora — much of it grew up or plays in Europe, several with roots and ties to Portugal — and plays with that blend of structure and nerve that’s a joy to watch. There are no inferiority complexes here. Cape Verde came out to contest the games, not to survive them.

Now comes the biggest test of all. In the last 16 they meet Lionel Messi’s Argentina, the reigning world champions and favourites for everything. On paper it’s a mismatch. But if there’s one team that has already shown it doesn’t pay much attention to paper, it’s this one. A month ago nobody in their right mind put Cape Verde at this stage — and here they are.

Win or lose what comes next, the achievement is already locked in. It’s proof that a small, well-organised, fearless country can pull up a chair at the big table. And let’s be honest: there are few things in football as lovely as a debutant flatly refusing to play the supporting role. All that’s left is to cheer them on — and enjoy every minute of this adventure while it lasts.

The hard part is already done. After stumbling on their debut against DR Congo and answering with a 5-0 thumping of Uzbekistan, Portugal arrive at the final group game with a place in the last 16 already secured. The match against Colombia, in Miami, is one of those played with your head half in the next round.

That doesn’t mean there’s nothing on the line. Top spot in the group is up for grabs, and finishing first could mean a smoother — or at least different — path through the knockouts. For Roberto Martínez, it’s also a chance to manage minutes, rest tired legs and try out options for what’s ahead, without ever easing off enough to hand over the game.

On the other side is a Colombia who are always awkward to face: quick in the final third and full of players used to big stages. They’re not an opponent to take lightly, even with the table already smiling on Portugal. One slip can rewrite the group maths in an instant, and nobody wants to limp into the last 16 off the back of a poor display.

For Cristiano Ronaldo and company, the management is physical and mental too. The World Cup is long, played in hot stadiums, and the real tournament only starts now — the knockouts, where one bad day sends anyone home. The point is to arrive intact and confident, and ideally with the group wrapped up in first.

In short: main mission accomplished, but there are still details to fine-tune. This weekend Portugal are playing more against themselves than against Colombia. And it’s precisely in moments like these, when the immediate result matters less, that you find out whether a team is truly ready to go far.

While the country had its eyes on football, a Portuguese athlete was climbing to the top of a European podium in another sport: Gabriel Fernandes became European marathon canoeing champion in the C1 category (single-seater canoe).

Canoeing is one of those sports where Portugal is, quietly, a powerhouse. It doesn’t fill stadiums or dominate the news, but year after year it brings home European and world medals — the fruit of work by clubs, rivers and coaches few people ever see.

What C1 marathon is

Unlike the sprint races that last seconds, the marathon is pure endurance: tens of minutes of intense paddling, with portage sections where athletes jump out of the water and run with the boat on their backs to the next stretch of river. Winning takes a cool head, strong legs and technique honed to the millimetre.

For Fernandes, this gold confirms his status and gives him momentum for the rest of the season. For the sport, it’s another name added to a tradition that has already given Portugal world and Olympic champions.

A small tip: next time you pass a river with a canoeing club, watch a training session. It’s harder than it looks — and it’s where champions like this one are made.

It was a departure everyone saw coming, but no less felt for it. Nicolás Otamendi left Benfica on a free transfer and signed for River Plate, returning to Argentina after several years marshalling the Luz defence.

The centre-back was one of those players who split opinion and ended up winning almost everyone over: experienced, a leader, with that competitive streak that sometimes earned him cards but that fans love to have on their side. He carried trophies, the captaincy and plenty of big games on his shoulders.

What changes at Benfica

Losing a centre-back of this stature on a free is always bittersweet: it spares the balance sheet, but it opens a leadership hole you can’t buy on the corner. Benfica now enter a phase of rebuilding the defence, and fans will want to see new faces up to the task — and quickly, because the season won’t wait.

For Otamendi, it’s an almost romantic return to South American football near the end of his career, at one of the continent’s biggest clubs. There are sadder goodbyes; this one feels like coming home.

What’s left is the thank-you. For the unlikely goals, the blocks thrown body-first, and that temperament that, deep down, is what makes a captain.

The warm-up is over. Wimbledon’s sacred grass opens on Monday, 29 June, running until 12 July — the most elegant (and most stubbornly traditional) tournament on the tennis calendar.

The men’s draw

The big talking point is the bracket: Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner landed in the same half of the draw, which means that, if everything follows seeding, they’d only meet in the semi-finals. For fans, it’s halfway to a clash of generations — the veteran who has won it all against the world number one who inherited the throne.

And the Portuguese?

There are reasons to follow closely: three Portuguese players featured in the men’s qualifying draw, two of them seeded. The qualifying stage, played between 22 and 25 June, is that cruel funnel that decides who earns the right to step onto the main lawns. Having Portuguese representation right at the gates of the main draw is, in itself, good news for a country that historically doesn’t breathe tennis.

A curiosity that will get people talking

There’s also a return pulling the spotlight: Serena Williams plays a Wimbledon singles draw again, four years on, opening against young Maya Joint. Whatever the result, it’s the kind of story that makes the public stop and watch.

Two weeks of grass, compulsory white, and strawberries and cream. The tennis summer is officially open.

The World Cup is hogging the spotlight, but behind the scenes Portugal’s clubs aren’t resting. The new league season starts on August 9, leaving barely six weeks to settle squads — so the market is already bubbling.

At Porto, in came young Polish winger Oskar Pietuszewski (17, from Jagiellonia for around €10m) and Jakub Kiwior from Arsenal to firm up the back line. Ángel Alarcón left for Utrecht.

Sporting have exits to manage: Rodrigo Ribeiro to Augsburg, Diogo Travassos to Braga. And there’s noise around Pedro Gonçalves, with Fàbregas’s Como sniffing about. At Benfica, the hot name is Pavlidis, with Besiktas showing interest.

What it tells us

It’s early, and half these deals could still flip. But the pattern repeats: the big clubs sell prized youngsters, bank the fee, and reinvest. Keep watching — in pre-season, the surprises almost always land in the final days.

If this World Cup is delivering one thing, it’s drama. Ecuador served up the biggest slap of the last few hours, beating Germany 2-1 and reminding everyone that in a 48-team tournament there are no easy games.

Germany, mind you, had already booked their place after a 7-1 demolition of Curaçao and a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast — so the loss stings the pride more than the standings. But it’s a warning: the knockouts don’t forgive a wandering mind.

Who’s already in

The bracket is filling out. Mexico, the United States, Germany, Norway, Colombia, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, Morocco and a surprising South Africa — through to the knockouts for the first time ever — have all sealed spots. Portugal join the list and settle top place tomorrow.

The knockout phase (the “round of 32” in this expanded format) kicks off on June 28. From there it’s pure win-or-go-home. Exactly how we like it.

We can breathe: Portugal are into the knockouts. But there’s still maths to do tomorrow, and it isn’t trivial. In Miami, at 7:30pm Eastern, the national team meet Colombia in what is effectively a Group K final.

The arithmetic is simple. Colombia lead, and if they avoid defeat they finish first. Portugal only jump to the top with a win. Why does it matter if both are already through? Because first place usually means a theoretically gentler opponent in the next round — and in a 48-team World Cup, every shortcut counts.

Two heavyweights, head to head

Colombia have earned respect: James Rodríguez pulling the strings, Luis Díaz tearing down the left, and Luis Suárez (the Sporting one) sniffing out goals. They beat Uzbekistan 3-1 and saw off DR Congo with a tidy 1-0.

Portugal arrive flying after the 5-0 over Uzbekistan, Ronaldo grabbing a brace and Nuno Mendes curling in a free-kick for the ages. In midfield the luxury is almost rude: Vitinha and João Neves spinning the play, Bruno Fernandes ahead of them. Keep Díaz’s pace quiet and there’s a game to be won here.

Dig out the shirt, set the alarm — and pre-load the coffee. This one’s worth it.

The good thing about a 48-team World Cup is that the group stage feels like it’ll never end — and then, suddenly, it all ends at once. We’re at that point: the groups are nearly settled and the knockout bracket is starting to draw itself, with a few mouth-watering ties already on the board.

The ties we already know

There are heavyweight crossings in view. The Netherlands will square up to Morocco, a rematch with recent history. Japan, who finished second in their group, drew none other than Brazil — a brutal test right at the door. Switzerland won Group B after beating Canada 2-1, and the Canadians go through as runners-up. And Ecuador were the best of the third-placed teams, booking their spot in the next round.

And Portugal?

The national team is well placed in the picture. Portugal hold top spot in Group K, but the story isn’t written yet: Sunday brings a head-to-head with Colombia that decides who finishes first. A win or a draw could mean a friendlier path through the knockouts; a slip pushes the team toward the trickier side of the bracket.

That’s the beauty of this stage. Each match is no longer just three points — it’s the difference between drawing a beatable opponent or running into a giant early. For us, all that’s left is to cheer, do the maths and hope Sunday goes our way.

This is the first World Cup with 48 teams, and that brought a wrinkle that’s confusing half the planet: the knockouts start at the round of 32. Yes, you read that right — before the round of 16, there’s an extra round.

The rule for who advances is simple: the top two from each of the twelve groups go through, plus the eight best third-placed teams. Do the maths: 24 + 8 makes the 32. From there it’s the usual sudden death — lose and you’re packing your boots for the airport.

The dates and what’s next

The knockouts kick off on June 28, with the round of 32 running through July 4, and the winners moving on to the round of 16. For Portugal, the maths is still settling: their position and opponent hinge on the final group game. Translation: don’t miss the next whistle.

Wednesday wrapped up Groups A, B and C, with some hosts smiling and others biting their nails. In Group A, Mexico were all business in a 3-0 win over Czechia, while South Africa squeezed out a 1-0 against South Korea. Tidy results before the knockouts.

In Group B, Switzerland schooled hosts Canada, winning 3-1 and pinching top spot. And in Group C, Brazil did the expected — 3-0 over Scotland, no mercy — while Morocco and Haiti served up the goal-fest, the Moroccans winning 4-2.

The takeaway

Brazil, Mexico, Switzerland and Morocco leave the round with high morale and a stamped ticket to the knockouts. The hosts have been patchy — Canada stumbled, and that shifts the picture. Now buckle up: from the weekend on, any slip sends you home.

If one saga is heating up the football summer, it’s this. José Mourinho is leaving Benfica to return to Real Madrid — with an affordable release clause, somewhere around three million euros, swinging the door open to Madrid.

Stepping into the Special One’s shoes is Marco Silva. The former Fulham manager returns to Portuguese football more than a decade after he left it, inheriting a squad already mid-makeover.

The market is already moving

There’s plenty of shuffling around. Centre-back Tomás Araújo, 24, is in demand — talk of Spanish interest and Bayern Munich — while Sporting prepares to part with Maximiliano Araújo. Deals already done include Rodrigo Ribeiro’s move to Augsburg and Diogo Travassos to Braga.

For the fan, there’s only one question: can Marco Silva keep Benfica in the title fight without Mourinho’s magnetism (and drama)? The summer promises plenty.

Some days football reminds you why you drop everything to watch a match. Portugal swept Uzbekistan aside 5-0, and Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41, bagged a brace that puts him where no one else has been: the first player ever to score at six World Cups.

Roberto Martínez’s side, after a hard-fought 1-1 with DR Congo on opening day, will settle top spot in Group K against Colombia in Miami on 28 June.

Around the rest of the map

The day wasn’t only ours. England drew 0-0 with Ghana in a game best forgotten, and Croatia needed a Budimir goal to beat Panama 1-0. The eternal Luka Modric reached 200 caps, fourth all-time. Between records and dreary draws, the World Cup is warming up — and the best is still to come.

We already know the good news: Portugal are into the Round of 16. The 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan, with Ronaldo scoring and becoming the first player to find the net at six World Cups, took care of qualification. What’s left is where the team finishes Group K — and that changes everything that comes after.

The maths is simple. On the 27th, against Colombia, a win should lock up top spot. And top spot opens a friendlier path: the likely opponent would be the winner of Group B, currently Canada, the host still finding its feet at the highest level. In Vancouver on 7 July, that would be a demanding but tempting test.

The scenario to avoid

If Portugal draw or lose and slip to second, things get ugly sooner: the likeliest route leads to the winner of Group H, with Spain — the reigning European champions — as the big favourite. Nobody wants an Iberian clásico in the Round of 16.

That’s why the Colombia game, which looked like a formality, is anything but. It’s worth top spot, worth the path, and maybe worth dodging the neighbours earlier than you’d like. Mind the whistle.

Some players win records; others just seem to belong with them. Lionel Messi did it again, scoring both goals in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria in Dallas and becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.

The numbers are tidy and a little jaw-dropping. Monday’s brace took Messi to 18 goals at World Cups, two clear of Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who’d held the record since 2014. He’d already matched the mark with a hat-trick on opening night against Algeria. One more evening was all it took to make it his.

How it unfolded

It didn’t all go smoothly. Messi missed a first-half penalty — the kind that can rattle a player. He answered in style: a gorgeous finish before the break broke the game open, and another deep in second-half stoppage time sealed it. Holders Argentina stroll into the round of 16.

There was a bonus for the history books, too: he became only the third man to score in six straight World Cup matches, joining names from the distant past in Just Fontaine (1958) and Jairzinho (1970). At 38, and most likely at his last World Cup, the Argentine looks in no mood to be remembered for missing chances.

Good news for the maths lovers (and for those who can’t stand it): you can put the calculator away. With four points on the board, Portugal have sealed their place in the knockout rounds. Main job done.

What’s left to settle is the cherry on top: top spot in Group K. That’s where the final game comes in, against Colombia — one of the toughest sides Portugal could have run into at this stage. Finishing first should, in theory, dodge some of the scariest seeds in the next round. So even with qualification banked, this isn’t a game to coast through with the holidays in mind.

Why it matters

In an expanded World Cup, finishing your group well can save you miles and awkward opponents further down the line. Topping the group usually means a friendlier round of 32. It’s the difference between choosing your path and letting the path choose you.

For now, the headline is simple: Portugal are moving forward, Ronaldo is in form, and the couch can rest until the next whistle. Bring on Colombia — this time without the must-win pressure.

If the opener against DR Congo was one to bite your nails through, this was one to put your feet up for. In Houston, Portugal produced the performance everyone expected on day one and took Uzbekistan apart 5-0.

The script was written early. Inside six minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo popped up to finish a pinpoint Cancelo cross. And he wasn’t done: he added a second on the night and, along the way, walked straight into the record books — he’s now the first player to score at six different World Cups and Portugal’s all-time leading scorer at the finals. At 41. Some people retire; he collects records.

Not just the captain

Between Ronaldo’s two goals, Nuno Mendes curled in the kind of free-kick you keep to show the grandkids. Add an unlucky own goal from Uzbekistan keeper Nematov, plus a thumping second-half strike from substitute Rafael Leão to round it off. Five goals, no scares, possession in charge from first whistle to last.

What now?

The win puts Portugal on four points in Group K and books a spot in the next round. The final game, against Colombia, decides who finishes top — and that matters for the draw that follows. But for one night, you can exhale and enjoy it. Portugal needed a result like this to loosen the shoulders. It arrived right on cue.

Mark the diary: today at 6pm (mainland Portugal time), the national team is back in action. The opponent is Uzbekistan. The stage is NRG Stadium in Houston, with that Texas heat that won’t make life easy for anyone.

After a 1-1 draw with DR Congo on opening night, Portugal need points. The maths is easy to follow: a win all but seals a place in the round of 16 and takes the pressure off the final group game against Colombia.

What to expect

It’s the first-ever meeting between the two sides — and Uzbekistan’s debut at a World Cup finals. So there’s no history to dig up and no ghosts to chase away. Portugal are the clear favourites, but debutants tend to play with nothing to lose, and that always deserves respect.

For those watching from the couch: 6pm, get the snacks ready. And if Portugal start switched on, the evening should be calmer than the opener was.

There are good stories, and then there’s Cape Verde at this World Cup. The Blue Sharks, on their very first appearance at a finals, drew 2-2 with Uruguay in Miami Gardens — and anyone watching knows it could have been even better.

The match had everything. Kevin Pina opened the scoring on 21 minutes with a free-kick, Cape Verde’s first-ever goal at a World Cup. Uruguay turned it around before the break through Maxi Araújo and a Canobbio strike deep in stoppage time, but Hélio Varela levelled again on 61. By the end, only a flustered Uruguay and a few good saves kept Cape Verde from completing the comeback.

What it’s worth

Cape Verde sit third in Group H on two points — level with Uruguay and just two behind leaders Spain. Translation for the final game: beat Saudi Arabia and they’re into the knockouts. Yes, you read that right — Cape Verde, with barely half a million people, a step away from the last 16.

For the Lusophone world, this is one to keep. When a small team plays without fear of the big names, football gets more beautiful — and there’s a party in Portugal just as in any city where Portuguese is spoken.

If your Monday needed an excuse to end up on the couch, the World Cup has you covered: four games, two of them with the big names.

The main course arrives in the late afternoon (Portugal time): Argentina, who opened by thumping Algeria 3-0, meet Austria at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Right after, France — 3-1 winners over Senegal on matchday one — face Iraq in Philadelphia. The recent champions and runners-up want to lock up a round-of-16 spot without any scares.

The other two

The night still holds Norway–Senegal at MetLife Stadium and Jordan–Algeria in Santa Clara. Norway come in flying after a 4-1 win over Iraq, and Senegal need to bounce back from the France defeat. There are qualification maths shifting in all of them.

And Portugal?

Today, a rest day for the national team — no Portugal game on this Monday’s schedule. A good moment to recharge (the players’ batteries and ours) before the next fixture. For now, it’s sit back, watch the giants play, and pretend we all understand tactics.

Some stories sound made up. Cape Verde — just over half a million people, scattered across a few islands in the Atlantic — is at its first ever World Cup. And it didn’t go there to make up the numbers: on debut, it drew 0-0 with Spain, one of the title favourites. First point in its history, in one of the tournament’s shocks.

Qualifying was already epic, back in October 2025, with a 3-0 win over Eswatini. Cape Verde became one of the smallest nations ever to reach a World Cup — the smallest by land area, the second least populated.

People with stories

The best part is the people. Defender Roberto “Pico” Lopes was working at a bank in Dublin when he got a LinkedIn message inviting him to the national team — he thought it was spam. Now he’s at a World Cup. Goalkeeper Vozinha made sure to get his mother into the stands. It’s not just football; it’s a whole country’s pride.

Today, Sunday, Cape Verde face Uruguay. For Portuguese speakers on this side of the Atlantic, here’s a team that’s easy to adopt as a second love — after Portugal, of course. Go on, Blue Sharks.

If anyone still doubted who runs this side of the bracket, Spain settled it. A 4-0 over Saudi Arabia that was never in question — one of those games where you start feeling sorry for the other team around halftime.

In the middle of it all was Lamine Yamal, again. The kid plays with the calm of someone who’s seen this movie a thousand times, with a whole stadium watching his feet. Spain passed, rotated, waited for the gaps, and when they opened, showed no mercy.

Why this matters to us

Because Spain are serious contenders, and these are the players Portugal could run into deeper in the tournament. Seeing “La Roja” click this early is a warning to everyone — and a treat for anyone who just loves good football.

For now, the familiar feeling stands: when this Spanish generation has its head right, it’s a problem for the entire planet. Next chapter loading.