Overview
- Spain were held to a 0-0 draw by World Cup debutants Cape Verde in Atlanta on Monday after heavy possession failed to produce a goal.
- Spain controlled the ball for much of the match but lacked a clinical finish as veteran goalkeeper Vozinha made several important saves and Lamine Yamal, managed for a hamstring concern, failed to change the score after being introduced from the bench.
- Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto 'Pico' Lopes started for Cape Verde, a squad that used extensive diaspora scouting to qualify and that recruited Lopes after contact via LinkedIn in 2019.
- Barcelona midfielder Fermín López will miss the tournament after corrective surgery on a fractured fifth metatarsal, a late pre-tournament development that altered Spain's squad options.
- FIFA is investigating footage of VAR official Shaun Evans making an upside-down ‘OK’ gesture on camera during pre-match coverage, and monitoring groups have requested answers about the gesture's meaning and context.