Spain Held by Tiny Cape Verde at World Cup as Iran Make Bow

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. Iran battled back twice to secure a 2-2 draw with New Zealand in a tumultuous opening match of their World Cup campaign, with the match frequently overshadowed by political protests and ongoing tensions surrounding Iran's involvement. An Iranian national football team player's United States visa expired after the team's World Cup opener, casting doubt on his continued participation amid a diplomatic row between Iran and the United States. At the same time, 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. 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. Heavyweights Argentina and France, who played in the dramatic 2022 World Cup final, began their 2026 World Cup campaigns on Tuesday.