World Cup 2026 Day 16: Group H Recap

Group H concluded its final matchday on Friday evening. This group was, in fact, a shocker. Out of the four teams in the group, Spain and....Cape Verde, advance to the knockouts! Uruguay and Saudi Arabia are out! 

Cape Verde has the ultimate test next Friday. They take on the reigning world champions, Argentina, on Friday evening at 6:00 pm EDT. 

General view of Cape Verde players and Saudi Arabia players during the national anthems before the match

Annegret Hilse

World Cup Group H - Matchday 3

Cape Verde 0 - 0 Saudi Arabia 

Cape Verde advances to the knockout stage! A 0-0 draw was enough for the country to advance to the Round of 32 in its World Cup debut. Cape Verde only needed one point to stay alive, and they got it. 

This was a tight match. Saudi Arabia controlled possession for large stretches of the match. Their midfield generated a few dangerous chances throughout the first half, but none would pass Vozinha. 

Cape Verde's Vozinha celebrates with teammates after the match as they qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup

MARIA LYSAKER

Tension remained in the second half. Saudi Arabia kept applying pressure, but Cape Verde was completely fine with absorbing it. They remained calm and structured. Cape Verde knew they only needed one point.

Cape Verde's Jamiro Monteiro celebrates after the match as they qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup

MARIA LYSAKER

As the clock was ticking, Saudi Arabia kept pushing, but Cape Verde remained resilient. When the final whistle blew, Cape Verde exhaled. A country that has defined odds in the group stage will now play in the Round of 32.

Uruguay 0 - 1 Spain

Spain was going to top Group H regardless of the result, but the Spaniards eliminated Uruguay from the World Cup with a 1-0 win. 

General view inside the stadium before the match

Raquel Cunha

Spain was completely in control from the opening whistle. They dictated tempo with their passing game and had Uruguay on its heels. Uruguay looked compact against Spain's relentless attack. 

Spain's breakthrough finally came in the 42'. Álex Baena put the Spaniards ahead 1-0 on a goal that Fernando Muslera will be seeing in his nightmares. Muslera had his hands on Baena's shot, but the ball somehow trickled into the back of the net. Spain entered halftime with a 1-0 lead and was completely calm. 

Spain's Alex Baena scores their first goal past Uruguay's Fernando Muslera

Eloisa Sanchez

Spain continued to apply pressure in the second half. Uruguay kept trying to push for an equalizer but kept getting shut down. Spain kept controlling possession in the second half despite pressure from Uruguay. 

Uruguay's Agustin Canobbio is shown a red card by referee Ismail Elfath

Eloisa Sanchez

In the end, Uruguay couldn't find an equalizer. Spain would walk away with a 1-0 win to top the group, and Uruguay would be sent packing from the World Cup. 

Day 16, Group H, Round-up:

Day 17 at the 2026 World Cup

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