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. At the same time, 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. Additionally, 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. Further, 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.