Argentina Survive Cabo Verde Scare to Reach FIFA World Cup Round of 16

Defending champions Argentina narrowly escaped one of the biggest upsets in FIFA World Cup history, defeating tournament debutants Cabo Verde 3-2 in a thrilling Round of 32 encounter in Miami.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring with his seventh goal of the tournament, but Cabo Verde refused to back down. The African side twice fought back to level the score, displaying remarkable determination and pushing the world champions to their limits.

After extra time failed to separate the two sides, Argentina finally found the decisive breakthrough with an own goal, ending Cabo Verde's dream run and securing their place in the Round of 16.

While Argentina celebrated qualification, the match belonged as much to Cabo Verde, whose fearless performance earned admiration from football fans around the world. Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha produced several outstanding saves, while the team's relentless attacking spirit kept Argentina under pressure until the final whistle.

With the hard-fought victory, Lionel Scaloni's men keep their World Cup title defence alive and will now face Egypt in the Round of 16. However, the narrow escape served as a reminder that no opponent can be taken lightly on football's biggest stage.

For Cabo Verde, the defeat marked the end of a memorable World Cup debut, but their spirited display against the reigning champions will be remembered as one of the standout stories of the 2026 tournament.

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