Young Lamine Yamal scored less than 10 minutes into his World Cup debut, Iran and Cabo Verde both held out for famous draws against highly-fancied opponents Belgium and Uruguay respectively, and Cabo Verde’s most famous mum arrives to see her son.
Here are the quick hits for today’s action at the World Cup.
1. Young Yamal delights in 45-minute cameo
Lamine Yamal scored within 10 minutes of his first World Cup start. (Getty Images: Justin Setterfield)
The presence of Lamine Yamal was always going to be key for Spain at this World Cup, and he proved it inside 10 minutes of his first start.
After an all-too-brief cameo in Spain’s stunning goalless draw with Cabo Verde on match day one, Yamal made a near instant impact on his first World Cup start with Spain’s opening goal.
Aged 18 years and 343 days, Yamal became the eighth youngest player to score a goal at the World Cup and second-youngest Spaniard after Gavi, who was 18 years and 110 days old when he scored against Costa Rica in 2022.
He is, though, the second youngest player to ever open the scoring in a game at a World Cup behind some bloke called Pelé, who scored the only goal of the game when Brazil beat Wales 1-0 in 1958.
Incidentally, that goal, when Pelé was 17 years and 239 days old, made him the youngest player to ever score at a World Cup.
Yamal was still limited in minutes — he only played the first 45 against Saudi Arabia as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury — but was ever so good in a vastly improved Spain team.
And with La Roja able to wrap their star in cotton wool as he eases his way into the tournament, the odds are he will play an even greater role as the tournament goes on.
2. Raining red cards in 2026
Across the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, a total of eight red cards were shown across both tournaments.
Nathan Ngoy was sent off just before the final drinks break. (Getty Images: Jamie Squire)
We have already hit that number in the 2026 tournament, just over halfway through the group stages.
Belgium’s Nathan Ngoy was the eighth player to be dismissed, dragging down Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi after his attempted backpass went badly wrong.
Although far from violent, it was a professional foul as the last defender, despite the contact taking place over 30 metres from goal.
Ngoy was distraught that he had messed up on the big stage, standing with his hands on his head as the referee thrust the red card into his face.
And although it did not cost Belgium the win, it did halt their momentum as they searched for a winner against a resolute Iran defence.
3. Persia’s pensioners stand up
“He’s the number one, he’s the number one,” Iran teammate Mehdi Ghayedi said of Alireza Beiranvand as the pair walked over to celebrate with their supporters.
He is not wrong.
Beiranvand was sensational between the sticks for Iran as they held Belgium to a 0-0 draw, delivering a man of the match performance.
Alireza Beiranvand, right, popped up at the best times for Iran, as they denied Belgium. (Getty Images: Soccrates/Eric Verhoeven)
Iran’s starting line up was the oldest since World Cup records were first taken in 1966, with an average age of 32 years and 181 days.
Beiranvand, 33, is just above the average age, but did not show it with some sensational stops.
“He’s one of our greatest goalkeepers in the history of Iranian football, and he has achieved many things,” Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said.
“He’s extremely intelligent, very experienced and he had one of his best days today.”
All up he made seven saves, but none were better than the one he pulled out to deny Maxim De Cuyper, although Belgium keeper Thibaut Cortoirs was just as good in making two stunning saves to deny Iran against the run of play.
It is not just him pushing the upper limit of the age range.
The three centre backs — Hossein Kanaanizadegan, 32, Shojae Khalilzadeh, 37 and Ali Nemati, 30, are all over 30 — and although 27-year-old Saleh Hardani is the youngest player in the line up, the other fullback Ehsan Hajsafi is no spring chicken at 36.
4. Vozinha’s mum made it
Cabo Verde’s hero of Atlanta, Vozinha was given a big boost heading into his side’s match against Uruguay.
The 40-year-old World Cup finals debutant Vozinha recorded seven sensational saves against Spain in their stunning opening 0-0 draw.
Vozinha has his mother in the stands. (Getty Images: FIFA/Carmen Mandato)
However, his mother was unable to attend that match because she could not obtain a visa, and Vozinha was reduced to tears talking about her absence, and that of his deceased grandparents, who raised him.
However, Ana Candida Evora is now here, receiving a visa from US State Department and making the trip across the Atlantic.
“I want to thank all the fans, everyone who helped in the process, for the support you gave to the team, especially to Cabo Verde,” Evora said in remarks distributed by FIFA in a video message.
“We’re all rooting for Cabo Verde to play well, to shine on the pitch. The players need to have faith, and everything will go well.”
For Vozinha, he was thrilled that his family would be here for him.
“For me, this is very important because all my family always supports me in everything,” Vozinha told reporters at the team’s training camp earlier this week.
“And to have her here, for me, it’s something special. My father also is here and my brother, so I am very happy. I wish I could bring more, maybe my brothers and sisters and nephews, but I think sometimes it’s difficult.”
Vozinha had a less spectacular day personally this time around, he did not make a save despite Uruguay having 34 touches in his penalty area, and conceded two goals.
But Cabo Verde held on for another famous draw.
5. S***housery from Uruguay?
Cabo Verde may have provided a moment of sheer brilliance to take the lead against Uruguay.
But there was some frustration about Uruguay’s equaliser.
Cabo Verde midfielder Telmo Arcanjo went down twice in the space of a couple of minutes, clearly struggling with a hamstring injury.
The second time, he was having his leg stretched out by Uruguay forward Federico Viñas.
Federico Viñas unceremoniously dropped the foot of Telmo Arcanjo. (Supplied: SBS)
As soon as Uruguay counter attacked though, the Uruguay striker promptly dropped Arcenjo’s foot and spun around to join in the attack.
Cabo Verde’s players were upset, and there may be a case to say that with an opposition player helping their stricken teammate, play could have been stopped.
But in the end, it was Cabo Verde’s responsibility to put the ball out and it cost them.
