France, Spain and Cape Verde advance on a dramatic World Cup night

Another dramatic night at the 2026 World Cup brought the round of 32 picture closer into focus. France overwhelmed Norway 4-1, Spain eliminated Uruguay 1-0, Cape Verde made history by reaching the knockout stage in its World Cup debut, and Senegal kept its hopes alive with a 5-0 win while waiting to see if third place will be enough to advance.

Cape Verde drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in Group 8 and finished second with three points, one ahead of Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. The Blue Sharks became only the third African team to get out of the group stage in its first World Cup appearance, and will now face Lionel Messi and Argentina. Saudi Arabia finished last and was eliminated. Cape Verde was the more dangerous side for much of the match, with chances for Willy Semedo and Kevin Pina, while Hélio Varela of Maccabi Tel Aviv entered in the 53rd minute.

In the same group, Spain beat Uruguay thanks to a first-half goal by Alex Baena in the 42nd minute. Uruguay’s manager Marcelo Bielsa substituted veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera at halftime after the mistake that led to the goal, but Sergio Rochet could not change the game. Uruguay ended with two points and suffered a second straight group-stage exit. The match also featured controversy, because Spain scored while Manuel Ugarte was down injured, and the goal stood after VAR review. Agustín Canobbio was sent off in stoppage time for a dangerous challenge on Pau Cubarsí.

France produced the night’s biggest statement with a 4-1 win over Norway and a perfect group-stage record. Ousmane Dembélé scored a first-half hat trick, the first in a World Cup half since Oleg Salenko in 1994 and the second-fastest hat trick from kickoff in tournament history. Norway briefly pulled one back through Thelo Aasgaard, but Désiré Doué sealed the result in stoppage time. Didier Deschamps was absent after returning home following his mother’s death, and assistant Guy Stéphan ran the team. Senegal’s 5-0 victory over Iraq in Toronto leaves it on three points and plus two goal difference, currently fifth among third-place teams, with Pap Gueye scoring twice and assisting another goal.