New Delhi: Defending champions Argentina will begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout campaign against tournament debutants Cabo Verde in the Round of 32 on July 3, with Lionel Scaloni’s men aiming to take another step towards retaining the coveted trophy.
While Argentina enter the contest as overwhelming favourites, Cabo Verde have already exceeded expectations in their maiden World Cup appearance and will be hoping to script one of the biggest upsets in tournament history.
Cabo Verde’s Dream World Cup Continues
Cabo Verde have emerged as one of the standout stories of the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup.
The Blue Sharks opened their historic campaign with an impressive 0-0 draw against reigning European champions Spain, before holding two-time world champions Uruguay to an entertaining 2-2 draw.
They completed the group stage with another disciplined defensive display, playing out a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia, finishing unbeaten and securing a memorable place in the knockout rounds.
Having already defied expectations, Cabo Verde will now look to challenge the defending world champions.
Argentina Eye Smooth Passage Into Round of 16
Argentina, meanwhile, have looked every bit the defending champions during the group stage.
Lionel Scaloni’s side kicked off their title defence with a convincing 3-0 victory over Algeria, followed it up with a 2-0 win over Austria, and wrapped up the group stage by defeating Jordan 3-1.
With captain Lionel Messi in excellent form and the squad firing collectively, Argentina will be confident of extending their unbeaten run.
Argentina vs Cabo Verde: Match Details
- Match: Argentina vs Cabo Verde
- Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32
- Date: July 3
- Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, USA
- Kick-off (IST): 3:30 AM
Head-to-Head Record
This will be the first-ever international meeting between Argentina and Cabo Verde.
Recent Form
Argentina
W-W-W-W-W
Cabo Verde
D-D-D-W-W
Predicted Playing XIs
Argentina (Possible XI)
- Emiliano Martinez
- Nahuel Molina
- Cristian Romero
- Lisandro Martinez
- Facundo Medina
- Rodrigo De Paul
- Alexis Mac Allister
- Enzo Fernandez
- Thiago Almada
- Lionel Messi
- Lautaro Martinez
Argentina Bench
Geronimo Rulli, Juan Musso, Gonzalo Montiel, Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Valentin Barco, Julian Alvarez, Jose Manuel Lopez, Giuliano Simeone, Nicolas Gonzalez.
Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Cabo Verde (Possible XI)
- Vozinha
- Steven Moreira
- Roberto “Pico” Lopes
- Diney Borges
- Sidny Cabral
- Kevin Pina
- Ryan Mendes
- Laros Duarte
- Jamiro Monteiro
- Jovane Cabral
- Dailon Livramento
Cabo Verde Bench
Marcio Rosa, CJ dos Santos, Logan Costa, Wagner Pina, Joao Paulo Fernandes, Kelvin Pires, Ianique “Stopira” Tavares, Yannick Semedo, Telmo Arcanjo, Deroy Duarte, Gilson Benchimol, Nuno da Costa, Garry Rodrigues, Willy Semedo, Helio Varela.
Coach: Pedro Leitão Brito
Players To Watch
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been in sensational form, scoring in each of the team’s three group-stage matches. The legendary forward has already netted six goals in the tournament and remains Argentina’s biggest attacking threat heading into the knockout rounds.
Vozinha (Cabo Verde)
Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha has been one of the breakout stars of the FIFA World Cup 2026. His outstanding performances have played a key role in Cabo Verde’s unbeaten run, and another inspired display will be crucial if the African side hopes to produce a historic upset against Argentina.
Argentina vs Cabo Verde Live Telecast In India
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash between Argentina and Cabo Verde will be telecast live on:
- Unite8 Sports 1
- Unite8 Sports 1 HD
- Unite8 Sports 2
- Unite8 Sports 2 HD
Argentina vs Cabo Verde Live Streaming
Fans can watch the match live on the ZEE5 app and website.
The game will be available in multiple languages, including:
- English
- Hindi
- Malayalam
- Bangla
With Argentina chasing back-to-back World Cup titles and Cabo Verde looking to continue their fairy-tale journey, the Round of 32 encounter promises to be one of the most intriguing knockout matches of the tournament.