The fifth day of the 2026 World Cup group stage produced a remarkable pattern rarely seen at this level: all four fixtures ended level. The standout moment came in Atlanta, where minnows Cape Verde held European heavyweights Spain to a scoreless draw, a result few had predicted before kick-off.

Spain arrived as heavy favourites, with most observers expecting Luis de la Fuente's side to have too much quality for their African opponents. Instead, Cape Verde produced a disciplined, courageous display built around 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, whose string of saves kept the scoreboard blank through 90 minutes. For fans following the tournament closely across markets - many tracking live coverage and updates through platforms like play karo 360 - it was the kind of underdog story that reaffirms why football's global appeal keeps growing. De la Fuente introduced teenage sensation Lamine Yamal after the break to sharpen Spain's attack, but Cape Verde's back line refused to break, securing a famous point.

Belgium and Egypt Share Spoils in Tight Contest

Elsewhere, Belgium and Egypt played out a 1-1 draw in a match that swung both ways. Emam Ashour gave Egypt a surprise lead with a well-struck effort, before Romelu Lukaku's pressure forced Mohamed Hany into an unfortunate own goal that restored parity for the Belgians. Both goalkeepers, Thibaut Courtois and Mostafa Shoubir, were tested repeatedly, while Kevin De Bruyne came close to winning it late on when his shot cannoned off the post.

Saudi Arabia Push Uruguay Close, Iran and New Zealand Share Six Goals

Saudi Arabia once again showed the strides Asian football has made in recent years, troubling Uruguay throughout. Abdulelah Alamri capitalised on a rebound to put the Saudis ahead, with goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais standing firm at the other end. Uruguay needed until the 80th minute to find an equaliser, Maxi Araujo's strike sparing them from an upset defeat.

The day's most chaotic match came between Iran and New Zealand, finishing 2-2. Elijah Just scored twice for the Oceania side, but Iran responded on both occasions through Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi. New Zealand's performance on their return to the World Cup stage drew considerable praise, a sign that the gap between traditional powers and emerging footballing nations continues to narrow.

Groups G and H Wide Open After Round One

With the opening round complete, both Group G (Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand) and Group H (Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Cape Verde) are locked at one point apiece for every team. It marks the first time since the 1958 World Cup that a single day of group-stage action has produced four draws.

• Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand - all level on one point
• Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia - all level on one point

Such uniform results are statistically rare and highlight how competitive the modern game has become, with several nations once considered outsiders now capable of matching traditional powers over 90 minutes. As the group stage continues, this balance points toward a tightly contested finish in both groups, with qualification likely to hinge on fine margins rather than early dominance.