The Hard Tackle discusses the three major talking points from Day 11 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after another action-packed day.

Day 11 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was an action-packed affair that delivered exactly what the tournament promises: goal-laden excitement and moments of defensive resilience. Three matches produced a flurry of goals, while Iran showcased impressive resolve against Belgium in a tightly-contested encounter that ended goalless. The day reshaped Group G and Group H standings, with pre-tournament favourites Spain finally waking up, debutants Cape Verde continuing their miraculous run, Egypt surging to the top of Group G, and Belgium facing mounting pressure after another disappointing result.

Spain finally silenced the critics who questioned their opening performance with a dominant 4-0 rout of Saudi Arabia in Atlanta. After failing to impress in their frustrating 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, Luis de la Fuente’s side returned to their attacking roots with Lamine Yamal scoring ten minutes into his first World Cup start. Mikel Oyarzabal, invisible against Cape Verde, revolutionised his performance with two close-range strikes and an assist, while Spain’s superiority was evident throughout as they never faced serious threat from the Saudi defence.

Up next, Belgium and Iran played out a goalless draw in Los Angeles that will be remembered more for Nathan Ngoy’s dismissal than for any goalscoring spectacle. The Red Devils spent over twenty minutes with just ten men after Ngoy was sent off for a reckless challenge, yet Iran refused to chase the game relentlessly. Instead, Team Melli maintained their defensive shape and prevented Belgium from breaking the deadlock, showcasing tactical discipline that has become their hallmark under Amir Ghalenoei.

Meanwihle, Cape Verde produced another historic performance, securing a 2-2 draw against Uruguay that has left them in contention for a spot in the round of 32. Kevin Pina made history by scoring Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup goal from a magnificent 32-metre free-kick in the 21st minute, while Helio Varela’s equaliser around the hour mark earned the debutants another crucial point.

The Blue Sharks have become the toast of this World Cup, overcoming low expections to go undefeated in their first two World Cup matches and proving they are no longer minnows but genuine contenders for a knockout stage spot. Finally, New Zealand suffered a heartbreaking 3-1 defeat to Egypt after leading 1-0 at half-time, with Egypt’s three second-half goals sending them to the top of Group G.

Mohamed Salah announced his arrival at the World Cup with a commanding performance, reinforcing his status as Egypt’s talisman. The Pharaohs now sit in the driver’s seat with four points from two matches, needing only a draw to secure a top-two finish, while New Zealand face an uphill battle to stay in contention. Here are three talking points to emerge from Day 11 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after another absorbing day of action across the three host nations.

Spain finally join the party

Spain’s goalless draw with Cape Verde had sent ripples of anxiety through the pre-tournament favourites. After failing to get past the resolute Vozinha in their opener, doubts swirled about whether Luis de la Fuente’s side had lost their cutting edge. Those concerns were decisively answered in Atlanta as Spain demolished Saudi Arabia 4-0, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and experienced forward Mikel Oyarzabal combining to put the game to bed before half-time.

Yamal, with his tenth-minute strike, became the eighth youngest scorer in tournament history. The Barcelona winger slid in at the far post to touch home a low cross from Oyarzabal, instantly settling Spanish nerves after the Cape Verde stalemate. Oyarzabal, who had been criticised for his lack of involvement against Cape Verde, not only provided the assist for Yamal but scored two close-range strikes in his man-of-the-match display.

By the time Marc Cucurella’s shot rebounded off Hassan Al-Tambakti for an own goal in the second half, La Roja had already done enough, as de la Fuente pulled both his star scorers off at halftime. With Luis de la Fuente carefully managing the minutes of his big hitters, Spain are gradually gaining the rhythm that will define their campaign.

Yamal, who helped Spain win the European Championship in 2024, is now proving he belongs on football’s biggest stage. Spain’s dominance justifies their status as one of the favourites to win the World Cup, though their failure to advance beyond the round of 16 since lifting the trophy in 2010 remains a lingering concern.

Cape Verde’s history-making miracle

Cape Verde have become the toast of the 2026 World Cup, pulling off one of the shocks of the tournament with their second straight draw. After holding European champions Spain to a goalless draw in their opener, the debutants upped their level once more against two-time world champions Uruguay, securing a 2-2 result that leaves them in contention for the round of 32.

Kevin Pina made Cape Verde history when he netted their nation’s first-ever World Cup goal in the 21st minute. The strike came from a magnificent 32-metre free-kick that drilled through the Uruguay wall and picked out the bottom-right corner – the longest-range goal of the 2026 World Cup so far. Pina’s strike also made Cape Verde the first team on record since 1966 to score their first-ever World Cup goal from a direct free-kick.

Helio Varela’s equaliser around the hour mark earned Cape Verde another crucial point. The substitute scored the fastest goal by an African substitute in a World Cup match (02:16) since Roger Milla netted for Cameroon against Russia in 1994. Varela latched onto Fernando Muslera’s loose volleyed pass, rounded the stranded goalkeeper, and fired into the gaping goal. With Saudi Arabia looking hapless against Spain, Cape Verde will fancy their prospects of producing another purposeful performance against them to effectively progress to the knockout stages. The debutants are the first team on record since Senegal in 2002 to go undefeated in their first two FIFA World Cup matches.

Egypt’s surge and Belgium’s troubles

Group G has taken a dramatic turn following Day 11, with Egypt putting themselves in the driver’s seat while Belgium face an ominous threat of early elimination. Egypt produced an impressive performance to come from a goal down, scoring three second-half goals that sent them to the top of Group G with four points from two matches.

Mohamed Salah announced his arrival at the World Cup with a commanding performance, now boasting five goal contributions for Egypt in four World Cup career games. The Cairo-born star continues to prove he remains Egypt’s talisman on the biggest stage. Meanwhile, Belgium produced another listless performance in their goalless draw with Iran, leaving the Red Devils third in the standings and at risk of having to qualify as one of the eight third-placed teams to secure a spot in the round of 32.

The most ominous sign for Belgium is their lack of quality in the final third. Having not scored a single goal from a player of their own so far – their strike in the 1-1 draw with Egypt was an own goal – the Red Devils have now failed to score on 53 consecutive shots at the World Cup dating back to Qatar four years ago. Romelu Lukaku looked badly out of sorts up top, having barely featured for Napoli over the past season due to injury. With Jeremy Doku unavailable due to illness and Belgium creating chances without scoring, Rudi Garcia’s side look like a faded force coming out the other side of an era in which they were blessed with lots of talent.

Egypt only need a draw to finish in the top two of Group G, while Belgium must beat New Zealand in their final match to guarantee a spot in the last 32. These are ominous signs for a team hoping to go deep in the tournament, and Belgium are not in any position to mount a serious challenge for the World Cup unless they rediscover their cutting edge. Meanwhile, Egypt are putting themselves in a position to go beyond the round of 32 if they retain their spot atop Group G after the final matchday.

Day 11 has reshaped the tournament landscape, with Spain regrouping, Cape Veronica continuing their miracle run, Egypt surging, and Belgium facing a crisis of confidence. The road to the round of 32 has become far more interesting.