arts
Cape Verde holds Spain to a surprising 0-0 draw in the country's World Cup debut
By James Robson | Associated Press at Fort Worth Report
· June 16, 2026
· 4 min read
ATLANTA (AP) — So much for a supersized World Cup diluting the quality of soccer's biggest tournament. Tiny Cape Verde, making its debut at the World Cup, pulled off a stunner, holding heavily favored Spain scoreless in a 0-0 draw on Monday. "This means everything for our country," Cape Verde coach
Key takeaway " European champion Spain is one of the favorites to win the tournament and was -1200 to beat Cape Verde.
Why this matters in The Fort Worth
For Fort Worth residents who enjoy soccer, Cape Verde's surprising draw against Spain is a reminder that the sport is popular beyond the city's own athletic programs, such as those at Texas Christian University. The city's diverse community may have fans of both teams, and the match's outcome could spark interesting discussions at local gathering spots like Sundance Square. The Fort Worth ISD's own soccer programs may also draw inspiration from Cape Verde's determination and resilience, values that are essential for success in any athletic endeavor. As the World Cup continues, Fort Worth fans will be watching to see if other underdog teams can pull off similar upsets, and how the tournament's expansion to 48 teams will affect the overall quality of play. The city's own experience with hosting large sporting events, such as those at the Fort Worth Stockyards, may also inform local perspectives on the World Cup's growth and development.
About this story
Original reporting by Fort Worth Report . The Fort Worth surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Fort Worth Report . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: arts ·
Published: June 16, 2026 ·
Source: Fort Worth Report ·
Reading time: 4 min
newsletter" aria-label="Newsletter signup" style="margin:24px 0;padding:20px 24px;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1e3a5f 0%,#2d5a8c 100%);border-radius:10px;color:#fff">
Get more The Fort Worth stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering arts and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? ATLANTA (AP) — So much for a supersized World Cup diluting the quality of soccer's biggest tournament. Tiny Cape Verde, making its debut at the World Cup, pulled off a stunner, holding heavily favored Spain scoreless in a 0-0 draw on Monday. "This means everything for our country," Cape Verde coach
When was this published? This article was first published on June 16, 2026 by Fort Worth Report and curated for The Fort Worth readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by James Robson | Associated Press at Fort Worth Report. To learn more about how The Fort Worth selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more arts coverage from The Fort Worth, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More arts →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter