World Cup 2026 / Cape Verde - Saudi Arabia: goalless at halftime (0-0)

No goals were scored in this decisive Group H clash. After a tightly contested and closed first half, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia remain deadlocked (0-0), keeping all the suspense alive for the second half.

It's all square at the break between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia at Houston's NRG Stadium in this Group H match of the 2026 World Cup. The opening period was physically intense but severely lacking in clear-cut chances. Cape Verde enjoyed 56% possession, dictating play against a compact and well-organized Saudi block led by Georgios Donis.

Read also: CDM 2026 / Cape Verde - Saudi Arabia: the official lineups!

Key events nonetheless disrupted the rhythm of the game. Two yellow cards were handed out in the opening minutes: Abdulhamid (4') for Saudi Arabia and Wagner Pina (8') for Cape Verde. The biggest setback, however, was the injury to Saudi central defender Hassan Al-Tambakti, who was forced off in the 32nd minute and replaced by Ali Lawgami.

From that point on, neither side managed more than a single shot on target, despite a few promising runs from Cape Verde's Ryan Mendes. The cooling break at the 24th minute, met with whistles from the crowd, summed up the limited intensity of a first half that still leaves everything to play for.

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

Editor

Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

Related teams and leagues

Saudi Arabia