June 15, 2026 | Times Asian Sports Desk
The fifth day of the FIFA World Cup 2026 produced a series of surprises as all four matches ended level, highlighting the growing competitiveness of the expanded 48-team tournament. Tournament favorites Spain, Belgium, Uruguay, and Iran were all denied victories by determined opponents.
In Atlanta, World Cup debutants Cape Verde stunned European champions Spain with a resilient 0-0 draw. Spain dominated possession and created numerous scoring opportunities, but veteran goalkeeper Vozinha delivered a heroic performance to secure his nation’s first-ever World Cup point. The result is already being regarded as one of the biggest upsets of the tournament’s opening week.
Group G action saw Belgium and Egypt share the points in a thrilling 1-1 encounter. Egypt impressed throughout and took the lead before Belgium responded in the second half. Both sides created chances to win, but neither could find a decisive goal.
In Miami, Saudi Arabia earned a valuable 1-1 draw against two-time world champions Uruguay. Saudi Arabia struck first and defended resolutely before Uruguay equalized late in the match. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Uruguay failed to secure all three points.
The day’s final match in Los Angeles also ended in a stalemate as Iran and New Zealand played out an entertaining 2-2 draw. New Zealand’s Elijah Just scored twice, but Iran responded on both occasions to keep the match level and leave Group G finely balanced.
Results – June 15, 2026
Spain 0–0 Cape Verde
Belgium 1–1 Egypt
Saudi Arabia 1–1 Uruguay
Iran 2–2 New Zealand
Looking Ahead
Attention now turns to Tuesday’s fixtures as Group I and Group J begin their campaigns. Football fans will be watching closely as France face Senegal, Iraq take on Norway, and Argentina open their tournament against Algeria.
The latest results underline a clear message from World Cup 2026: no team can be taken lightly, and the gap between traditional powers and emerging football nations continues to narrow.
