The goalless draw between Spain and Cape Verde at the 2026 World Cup was such a stunning upset that it was flagged as suspicious by the Council of Europe’s gambling watchdog.
Spain midfielder #16 Rodri (left) reacts next to Cape Verde goalkeeper #01 Bosinha (C) after a missed goal chance during the 2026 World Cup Soccer Group H match between Spain and Cape Verde at Atlanta Stadium on June 15, 2026 in Atlanta. (Photo: Roberto SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
One of Spain’s matches to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup was the subject of a match-fixing investigation.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final to win the tournament, winning all but one of their seven matches before reaching the climax at MetLife Stadium.
The exception was the World Cup opener’s goalless draw against Cape Verde, which was flagged as suspicious by the Council of Europe’s gambling watchdog, the Copenhagen Group.
Investigators are believed to have been surprised that Cape Verde held Spain to a goalless draw and the match was given a “yellow notice” meaning further investigation is required.
The draw was one of seven World Cup matches flagged by the FIFA body as worthy of further investigation.
US crypto-based prediction market Polymarket saw around £3.6 million bet on the tournament’s failure to win in Spain, which looked like a sure win at the start of the tournament.
However, after examining betting patterns, information and social media activity surrounding the outcome, officials concluded it was simply an unusual upset, according to the Daily Star.
They found that Spain had 27 shots, compared to six for their rivals. But in the opening Group H game in Atlanta, none of the seven shots on target could beat the inspired Cape Verdean goalkeeper Vosinha.
The 40-year-old made spectacular saves to deny Mikel Oyarzabal, Aymeric Laporte and Ferran Torres, who also hit the crossbar as Spain closed in on Cape Verde’s goal. The underdog team also drew with Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, earning them a spot in second place in their group.
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In the end, they lost 3-2 to reigning world champions Argentina in extra time. Meanwhile, Spain defeated Argentina in the final.
FIFA’s Integrity Task Force determined there were “no signs of suspicious betting activity or match manipulation”, and the Copenhagen group agreed, reclassifying it as either “green” or “normal”.
A source close to world football’s governing body told the Daily Star: “It was a remarkable result. The fact that it was reported as a potentially questionable result shows how well Cape Verde did. But it was simply a big shock. Shocks happen in football.”
“Although Argentina lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in their opening match in Qatar in 2022, they won the World Cup that year.
“This time Cape Verde were unbeaten in every match of the 90 minutes. Argentina needed extra time to beat them. It was a fairy-tale performance that made the World Cup special.”
Vosinha raising the Cape Verdean flag after the draw with Spain (Image: Getty Images)
The Copenhagen group, part of several independent organizations including the FBI, was scrutinizing the tournament’s 104 games for evidence of possible match-fixing.
The red card given to South Africa’s Themba Zwane in the 84th minute of the tournament’s opener against Mexico was also initially flagged with a yellow flag, but later declassified as “normal”.
It also highlighted the three-and-a-half minute delay during Spain’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia when the video assistant referee team disallowed Spain’s Ferran Torres’ goal.
There was also a surge in bets that US striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension for a red card will be revoked and he will be available for the last-16 match against Belgium.
After Donald Trump made a personal plea to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, his suspension was suspended – meaning he could play. Belgium performed a “card shuffle” on the pitch after defeating the US team 4-1.
The Copenhagen group noted that no other bets could be placed on the red card ban being overturned in the tournament.
However, FIFA told the Daily Star it supported the conclusion of the integrity task force, which found no evidence of manipulation of match results at the tournament.
A spokesperson said: “FIFA supports the conclusions of the Integrity Task Force, which was the result of a collaborative effort by a number of independent expert groups.”
“Gambling monitoring reports and other relevant data and information provided by members of the Task Force, as well as information received through available reporting mechanisms, were analyzed and shared among members of the Task Force in line with operational procedures.
“As a result, we found no signs of suspicious betting or match manipulation related to any matches.”
