* Egypt 1-1 Belgium; Cape Verde 0-0 Spain; Iran 2-2 New Zealand; Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay
* A world Cup has never had a day of all draws, however, in 1958 four matches were drawn in a day, but there were eight game that were played
Maravi Express
All four FIFA World Cup™ 2026 matches ended in draws, which had Cape Verde holding former champions Spain 0-0; Egypt drawing with Belgium 1-1; Iran wrapping up the day by coming from behind twice against New Zealand to secure a 2-2 result; and Saudi Arabia taking the lead first before drawing 1-1 with Uruguay.
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A world Cup has never had a day of all draws, however, in 1958 four matches were drawn in a day, but there were eight game that were played.
The result by the debutantes holding European champions Spain have gone into the annals as one of the biggest shocks in FIFA World Cup history when as Spain’s ghosts of their recent World Cup horror shows reappeared in Atlanta.
Spain, regarded as one of the strong pre-tournament favourites, had been expected to cruise past Cape Verde in their Group H opener but despite enjoying 74% possession and laying siege to the Cape Verde goal, the 2010 world champions were unable to find a breakthrough against the underdogs from the African volcanic archipelago of just 525,000 people.
Cape Verde’s players and supporters celebrated wildly after securing an improbable point in what was their first-ever World Cup match.
In Seattle, Egypt produced a spirited display to secure a deserved 1-1 draw against FIFA World Cup contenders Belgium in a match that the former African champions were unlucky not to collect maximum points.
Facing one of world football’s most established nations, Egypt matched Belgium stride for stride as the Pharaohs took a surprise but thoroughly deserved lead in the 19th minute through Emam Ashour.
After receiving a well-weighted pass from captain Mohamed Salah, Ashour drifted into space before unleashing a powerful strike from distance that flew beyond Thibaut Courtois and into the bottom corner.
Belgium enjoyed periods of possession but struggled to break down Egypt’s well-drilled defensive structure. Omar Marmoush, Mostafa Zico and Salah repeatedly threatened on the counter-attack, while goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir commanded his area confidently whenever called upon.
The Pharaohs almost doubled their advantage shortly after the restart when Salah’s clever movement created an opening inside the penalty area before his downward header forced an excellent save from Courtois.
Moments later, Marmoush went close after a surging run through the Belgian defence. However, Belgium eventually found a way back into the contest in the 66th minute, although fortune played a significant role.
Shortly after Romeu Lukaku’s introduction, a dangerous delivery from the right caused confusion inside the Egyptian penalty area, with Mohamed Hany unfortunately turning the ball into his own net under pressure.
Despite the setback, Egypt refused to retreat as the North Africans continued to pose a threat and came close to restoring their lead, while Shobeir produced an outstanding save late on to deny Brandon Mechele and preserve parity.
The final whistle confirmed a valuable result for Egypt against a nation ranked among the elite of world football as the seven-time Africa of Nations (AfCON) champions return to FIFA World Cup action on June 22 against New Zealand.
After months of uncertainty sorrounding their participation in the tournament following the war in the Middle East, all eyes were on the Iranians as they took on the New Zealanders, who went ahead in the 7th minute when Elijah Just volleyed home from inside the box after being set up by Chris Wood.
Iran deservedly levelled in the 32nd, with Ramin Rezaeian stabbing the ball in from close range to send the largely Iran-supporting crowd at a packed stadium into raptures.
The outstanding Just, the 26-year-old Motherwell winger, restored New Zealand’s lead in the 54th minute, lifting the ball over goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand after another assist from Wood.
But Iran hit back again 10 minutes later, Mohammad Mohebbi glancing a header in off the back post to equalise again to render New Zealand, making their third appearance at the finals, remain without a win at a World Cup after seven matches.
Iran will return to Los Angeles to face Belgium in the next game, as they look towards reach the FIFA World Cup knockout stages for the first time.
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In Miami, Uruguay — despite dominating possession, had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia, whose centre back Abdulelah al-Amri’s opener for the Gulf nation was cancelled out by Maxi Araujo in a game where both sides profited from goalkeeping errors.
The first half was dominated by Uruguay but Saudi Arabia took the lead against the run of play in the 41st minute when Fernando Muslera made a costly error on a set-piece, parrying the ball into the path of al-Amri who poked the ball past the veteran keeper.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay though had the first chance of the game when Araujo stung the palms of Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais after five minutes.—Reporting by Agence France-Presse, CAFonline & Reuters; editing by Maravi Express
Group stage results
Group A
Mexico 2-0 South Africa
South Korea 2-1 Czechia
Group B
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
Group C
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
Group D
USA 4-1 Paraguay
Australia 2-0 Turkiye
Group E
Côte d’Ivoire 1-0 Ecuador
Germany 7-1 Curacao
Group F
Netherlands 2-2 Japan
Sweden 5-1 Tunisia
Group H
Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay
Group G
Belgium v Egypt
Iran 2-2 New Zealand
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