After the fifth matchday of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, three of four matches ended in draws, with only the Group G clash between New Zealand and Iran producing four goals. European champions Spain were held to a goalless draw by World Cup debutants Cape Verde, Group H's Saudi Arabia and Uruguay shared a 1-1 result, Belgium's substitutes scraped a draw against Egypt, and Iran twice came from behind to level in Los Angeles, joining Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand on one point at the top of the group.
Cape Verde's goalkeeper denies Spain, Group H still ripe for upsets
Spain made their first appearance at this year's World Cup, only to be held to a 0-0 draw in Atlanta by Cape Verde. The former are ranked second in the FIFA standings, while the latter sit 69th and are making their tournament debut, yet goalkeeper Vozinha repeatedly kept danger at bay to help his side earn the first point in Cape Verde's World Cup history. The data shows Cape Verde's previous two international matches before the tournament also finished 0-0, suggesting their defensive resilience was no fluke. The Group H picture was thrown wide open — later, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay (FIFA No. 17) shared a 1-1 draw in Miami, with the former opening the scoring through Abdullah Al-Amri, almost replicating the upset script that eliminated Argentina four years ago; Uruguay substitute Maxi Araujo equalised late on, as the South American traditional powerhouse kept their standards intact.
Ashour's worldie breaks through as Belgium's bench line finds redemption
In Seattle, Egypt—ranked 29th by FIFA and up two places in the latest standings—struck first against Belgium (9th). Imam Ashour, set up by Salah, unleashed a thunderous right-footed strike that flew past Courtois. An attacking midfielder who has steadily grown in his domestic league in recent years, he finally brought his goal-scoring instincts to the world stage; the composure in his celebration only underscored the embarrassment of Belgium's entire back line being torn apart at a single point. The Red Devils dominated possession throughout yet struggled to break through, until substitute Lukaku charged into the box and forced Egypt defender Mohamed Hany into an own goal to snatch a lifeline. For Egypt, the decisive goals no longer rest on Salah alone—young players are stepping into leading roles in attack, and that is the underlying logic behind their recent resurgence.
Jaez's brace falls short as Iran veterans pen another script under pressure
The Group G centerpiece in Los Angeles was even more dramatic. New Zealand (FIFA No. 85) forward Elijah Just scored twice, putting his side ahead on both occasions; but Iran (No. 21) pulled level twice amid the away-day atmosphere, with 36-year-old right-back veteran Ramin Rezaeian delivering one of the most compelling individual performances of the tournament so far, repeatedly dragging his team back from the brink of defeat to parity. After this match, all four Group G teams are tied on one point, and the back-to-back fixtures in the next round—Belgium vs Iran and Egypt vs New Zealand—will directly decide who can first break free from the deadlocked standings.
Round 2 to watch: Can developing talents keep delivering?
After reviewing the action through Matchday 5, our reporters on the ground identify Assou and Amri as showing the strongest signs of growth—the former completing his leap from domestic stalwart to long-range threat, the latter continuing to play the early shock merchant in Group H. Spain must unlock low blocks in Round 2, or the race for top spot in the group will turn into a premature war of attrition; Iran, meanwhile, will need to test whether their back line can replicate the resilience they showed in the opening round under sustained pressure. For fans, Group G's second round unfolds on the same matchday, with the standings liable to be reshuffled again at any moment.
