European champions Spain were surprisingly held to a 0-0 draw by debutants Cape Verde in their World Cup opener on Monday, June 15. Meanwhile, Iran prepared for their anticipated tournament entrance amidst a turbulent build-up.

• Spain, heavily favored, dominated possession with 74 percent but could not score against the underdogs.
• Cape Verde, a nation of just 525,000 people, celebrated securing an improbable point in their first-ever World Cup match.
• Iran's preparations were marked by visa issues with co-hosts the United States, and protests are planned outside their opening game against New Zealand.

Belgium fought back to draw 1-1 with Egypt in their opening World Cup group game in Seattle on Monday, with an own goal cancelling out Emam Ashour's early opener.

• Belgium equalized in the second half thanks to an own goal after Romelu Lukaku came off the bench.
• Egypt, currently seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions, continues their wait for a first World Cup victory.
• This marks Belgium's third consecutive World Cup match without a win.

Uruguay was frustrated by a resilient Saudi Arabia, settling for a 1-1 draw in a sweltering Miami match that leaves Group H wide open.

• Saudi Arabia took a surprise lead through defender Abdulelah al-Amri before Uruguay equalized late with a goal from Maxi Araujo.
• Uruguay, under coach Marcelo Bielsa, unleashed 22 shots in the second half but were thwarted by Saudi Arabia's defense and goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais.
• This result follows a shock 0-0 draw between Spain and Cape Verde in the same group, leaving all four teams with one point after the first round of games.

Iran battled back twice to secure a 2-2 draw with New Zealand in a tumultuous opening match of their World Cup campaign. The match was frequently overshadowed by political protests and the ongoing tensions surrounding Iran's involvement.

• Iran, the lowest-ranked team in Group G, faced significant distractions related to political protests that manifested both inside and outside the Los Angeles Stadium.
• Key goals for New Zealand were scored by striker Elijah Just, while Iran's equalizers came from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi.
• The team had overcome numerous obstacles before arriving, including visa issues and a last-minute change of training camps, highlighting the significant challenges faced by Team Melli.