World Cup 2026: Cape Verde veteran takes over social media, Tunisia act ruthlessly, Messi set to make history

World Cup 2026: Cape Verde veteran takes over social media, Tunisia act ruthlessly, Messi set to make history If the opening days of the tournament have taught us anything, it’s that reputations count for very little once the FIFA World Cup gets underway. Upsets continue to pile up, unexpected heroes are stealing the spotlight and some of the biggest contenders are already being forced to look over their shoulders. Stay with us as we revisit the key talking points and look ahead to another day of World Cup football. Cape Verde goalkeeper takes social media by storm Qatar’s last-gasp draw against Switzerland caught everyone by surprise, but what World Cup debutants Cape Verde achieved against one of the tournament favourites, Spain, on Monday bordered on the unbelievable. Despite being odds-on to commence their Group H journey with a bang, the reigning European champions slumped to a heart-wrenching 0-0 stalemate at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Not even the most optimistic Cape Verde fans could’ve expected the Blue Sharks to avoid defeat against Luis de la Fuente’s side, yet Bubista’s side defied expectations to claim a monumental point in their first-ever World Cup outing. Spain’s 27 total shots, including seven on target, ultimately counted for nothing. Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha made La Furia Roja’s 2.1 xG look utterly meaningless, producing a string of outstanding saves to inspire one of the biggest upsets in recent tournament history. The 40-year-old’s heroics between the sticks have not gone unnoticed. Indeed, his social media following has skyrocketed after the match. Starting the game with just 50,000 followers, Vozinha now sits at 2.5 million at the time of writing, and it seems the sky is the limit for the Chaves veteran, who has become an overnight social media sensation. Tunisia make an unprecedented decision Tunisia’s third consecutive World Cup appearance started with a whimper rather than a bang as Sweden thrashed them 5-1 in their opening Group F fixture. Premier League stars Vitkor Gyokers and Alexander Isak were on the scoresheet as Graham Potter’s free-firing side put the African nation to the sword in Guadalupe. Trounced at the first hurdle, Tunisia have made a historic decision, sacking head coach Sabry Lamouchi midway through the tournament. After a humiliating start to the most prestigious sporting event in 2026, the 54-year-old was sitting on the precipice of a premature departure, having been appointed as early as January. What looked like a far-fetched scenario became reality in a matter of hours. Perhaps unexpectedly, the Eagles of Carthage carried through with their plan, making Lamouchi the first-ever manager to be relieved of his duties after the opening match of the tournament. With the former French international gone, Mondher Kebaier, who was fired after Tunisia’s quarter-final exit at the Africa Cup of Nations in January, has emerged as the likeliest candidate to fill the vacancy. France keen to banish ghosts from the past as they bid to reach the history books Argentina squeezed past France in Qatar four years ago, denying Les Bleus the chance to become the first nation since Brazil in the 1960s to retain the World Cup title. However, long-serving boss Didier Deschamps could rewrite the history books in his last tournament in charge of the two-time world champions. Looking to become just the third team in history to reach three consecutive World Cup finals, France will kick off their Group I campaign against Senegal. It will be the first meeting between the sides since the 2002 edition. For the younger generations, Les Bleus started that tournament as the reigning champions. Yet, a 1-0 defeat to the Indomitable Lions in the opening game set the tone for an embarrassing campaign as France crashed out in the group stage without scoring a single goal. Two decades on, and Deschamps’ charges have an opportunity to settle old scores and show they have learned from one of the darkest chapters in French football history. One thing’s certain – this won’t be a walk in the park. Pape Thiaw’s men are no pushovers, and underestimating the size of the task at hand would be a costly mistake for the French. And so, it begins Defending the World Cup crown has been among the most arduous tasks in football throughout history, and Argentina will try to throw the script out of the window this summer. Four years ago, Lionel Messi climbed to the throne of immortals as La Albiceleste won their first title since 1986, beating France in one of the most entertaining World Cup finals ever. Florida has since become La Pulga’s home as he left European football to join David Beckham’s Inter Miami in 2023, though he and his teammates start their title-defending campaign in Kansas City. Argentina’s Group J opener against Algeria will mark Messi’s landmark 200th appearance for the national team. More importantly, he’s set to become the first player to feature in six different World Cups. Heavily fancied to take all three points at Arrowhead Stadium, Lionel Scaloni’s charges can take confidence from the fact that they’ve emerged victorious from their last six World Cup clashes against African opposition. Adding to Argentina’s growing confidence, they headed into the tournament on the back of 13 wins from their last 15 games, setting the stage for Messi to celebrate his impressive milestone in the best possible fashion. Top football stories Iran fans defy Fifa ban to protest at World Cup match FIFA clears referee accused of making ‘White power’ gesture after he calls it ‘involuntary twitch’ Infantino using private jet in attempt to watch two World Cup matches per day | World Cup 2026 Football Today features World Cup 2026: Germany run riot, Dutch pegged back twice, Doku ‘key’ for Belgium After the Final Whistle: How This Summer’s Tournament Will Reshape Football’s Biggest Transfer Stories Barcelona view Eli Junior Kroupi as the most viable alternative to Julian Alvarez What to watch Argentina can ill-afford to take their opening fixture for granted, especially after being humbled by Saudi Arabia at the start of the Qatar edition last time out. This tournament has already produced several surprise twists, which should serve as a warning for the reigning champions not to get too comfortable ahead of tonight’s kick-off. All eyes will naturally be on Messi. In addition to boasting more World Cup games under his belt (26) than any other player, the 38-year-old has amassed 13 goals and eight assists, as he now looks to add another chapter to his remarkable legacy.