Iran drew Belgium 0-0 at the Los Angeles stadium under a 24-hour visa leash no other team faces, with Torabi cleared to start. Cape Verde, a nation of 550,000, drew Uruguay 2-2 to stay unbeaten on debut. Group H reopened once Spain's win over Saudi Arabia proved to be 4-0, not 1-0. Italy's federation elects its president today.
The tournament's smallest nations turned Sunday into their own day.
Beiranvand kept De Bruyne and Tielemans out for an hour against ten men, and Iran left the Los Angeles stadium with a 0-0 draw that puts them level with Belgium on two points going into the final group round.
QatarIran held Belgium 0-0 at SoFi Stadium on 21 June. Beiranvand denied De Bruyne and Tielemans after Nathan Ngoy's red card left Belgium with ten men from the 66th minute. Taremi's goal was ruled out by VAR for offside.
Group G is wide open: Egypt lead on four points, Iran and Belgium level on two. Both face deciders on 26 June, Iran against Egypt in Seattle.
Kevin Pina curled in Cape Verde's first ever World Cup goal from 32 metres, and Helio Varela equalised 136 seconds after coming on, as a nation of 550,000 drew Uruguay 2-2 to stay unbeaten on debut.
Cape Verde drew 2-2 with Uruguay on 21 June to stay unbeaten on their World Cup debut. Kevin Pina scored a 32-metre free-kick, the nation's first ever World Cup goal, and Helio Varela equalised 136 seconds after coming on.
They are the first debutants unbeaten after two matches since Senegal in 2002. Group H now has Spain on four points, Cape Verde and Uruguay on two, and Saudi Arabia out.
Mexico, the United States, Germany and Canada have booked the new round of 32, while Haiti, Turkey and Tunisia are out and Saudi Arabia have joined them in all but the arithmetic.
QatarMexico, the United States, Germany, and Canada confirmed their places in the round of 32 after two group rounds on 21 June. Haiti, Turkey, and Tunisia have been eliminated. Saudi Arabia joined them in practice after a 4-0 loss to Spain, the scoreline was initially reported incorrectly as 1-0 before being corrected.
The 2026 World Cup's 48-team format adds an extra knockout stage that did not exist in previous tournaments, giving more nations a path through the group stage.
For Iran the direction is sideways, with a single open question: whether the 24-hour protocol imposed by the White House FIFA Task Force under the US sanctions regime {{EVREF:/t/2026-fifa-world-cup/25/us-holds-irans-24-hour-visa-leash/}} is repeated or eased for the 26 June Egypt fixture in Seattle. No announcement has been made as of 22 June. A repeat 24-hour restriction against Egypt, who lead Group G on four points, leaves Iran needing a win or a draw while goal difference swings their way. For Cape Verde the trajectory is upward: their 26 June group match against already-eliminated Saudi Arabia is the best draw possible for a debutant, and a win would put Cape Verde on five points, sufficient to qualify as a best third-place finisher under the 2026 format's twelve-group structure.
AI-assisted, human-edited under the editorial responsibility of Bannermedia Ltd. Reviewed by Ed Woodcock on 22 June 2026. Editorial standards.
