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PALANGKA RAYA – A surprising result emerged in Group H of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The highly favoured Spain side was held to a draw by Cape Verde, who were making their debut in the prestigious four-year tournament.

The match took place on Monday (June 15, 2026) at 11:00 PM local time (WIB).

The intensity of the game created a tense atmosphere during the public viewing event at the TVRI Central Kalimantan courtyard.

Moments of tension frequently turned into bursts of excitement whenever Spain created a scoring opportunity.

The same happened in reverse, as Cape Verde launched dangerous counterattacks.

However, the excitement never culminated in a goal, as the match ended in a goalless 0-0 draw.

Although Spain failed to secure a full three points from their opening match, one of their supporters in Palangka Raya, Firdaus (19), remained optimistic that Lamine Yamal and his teammates would go far in the tournament, possibly even lifting the trophy.

He compared Spain’s situation to Argentina’s in the 2022 World Cup, when Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in their first game but went on to become champions.

According to Firdaus, Luis de la Fuente’s squad still delivered a fairly satisfying performance despite not scoring.

“If we remember, Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in their first match in 2022. Maybe Spain can follow the same path,” he said after the public viewing at the TVRI Central Kalimantan courtyard on Tuesday (June 16, 2026).

Based on Firdaus’ observations, Spain dominated possession and applied pressure from the opening whistle.

However, he noted that the Cape Verde national team displayed well-organised defensive discipline.

Even so, Firdaus expressed confidence that Spain would produce better results in their upcoming fixtures.

“If their next opponents play a more open game, Spain will have more chances,” he explained.

As a loyal Spanish supporter since 2014 and a Barcelona fan, Firdaus remains confident that La Furia Roja will go far in this edition of the tournament.

He also highlighted that Spain’s squad is filled with star players across all positions, including his favourite, midfielder Pedri Gonzalez.

For context, Spain and Cape Verde are in Group H alongside Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

The draw placed Spain and Cape Verde at the top of the table, as the Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay fixture was scheduled for the following morning.