World Cup 2026: It’s a dream come true – 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha after holding Spain in opener

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has described his side’s remarkable goalless draw against Spain in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a dream come true after the African nation frustrated one of the tournament favourites in Atlanta.

The 40-year-old veteran was at the heart of a resilient Cape Verde display as they secured a memorable 0-0 result against a star-studded Spanish side in their Group H opener.

Spain arrived at the tournament tipped as one of the favourites to lift the trophy, with head coach Luis de la Fuente confidently declaring that he possessed the strongest squad in the competition.

La Roja boasted an array of elite talent, including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and Fabian Ruiz, who recently celebrated a second successive UEFA Champions League triumph with Paris Saint-Germain. Much of the squad that won Euro 2024 was also on display, underlining Spain’s credentials.

Despite their dominance in possession and attacking quality, Spain found no way past Cape Verde’s disciplined defence. Even the introduction of Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, making his return from injury in the second half, failed to unlock the stubborn resistance.

Vozinha produced a commanding performance between the posts, organizing his defence superbly as Cape Verde earned a clean sheet that will go down as one of the most significant results in the nation’s football history.

Speaking after the match, the emotional goalkeeper expressed his pride at representing the island nation on the biggest stage.

“Very proud. For me it is an honour for me to represent my country,” Vozinha told reporters.

“We are from a small country. Our qualification was very difficult in a group with Cameroon and Libya, but we knew if we followed the plan of the coach, we had a great chance to qualify.

“The dream came true. We competed against Spain, one of the best teams in the world. We are very happy and proud of all the players and people of Cape Verde.”

The result leaves Cape Verde with a valuable point from their opening fixture and boosts confidence ahead of their next challenge.

The Blue Sharks will now turn their attention to a daunting clash against Uruguay in Miami on Sunday as they seek to build on their historic start to the World Cup campaign.