4'
Saudi Arabia · Yellow card · Saud Abdulhamid
Saudi Arabia
Kickoff weather31°CClear10 mph · 0% precip
Group H2026-06-2712:00 AM
0-0
FTHouston StadiumHoustonUnited States
Full time
Momentum
Timeline and live trends
finished
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia. Toggle one metric at a time to inspect the live shape of the match.
Possession tide
Final read CPV controlling - 51% of the ball
ControlsPossession · CPV line7 event filters
line
KO
15'
30'
HT
60'
75'
90'
8'
Cape Verde · Yellow card · Kevin Pina
Cape Verde
33'
Saudi Arabia · Ali Lajami on for Hassan Al-Tambakti
36'
Saudi Arabia · Yellow card · Salem Al-Dawsari
45+1'
Match · Added time · +6'
46'
Saudi Arabia · Musab Al-Juwayr on for Abdullah Al-Khaibari
61'
Cape Verde · Nuno da Costa on for Dailon Livramento
61'
Cape Verde · Hélio Varela on for Willy Semedo
65'
Saudi Arabia · Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat on for Salem Al-Dawsari
65'
Saudi Arabia · Abdullah Al-Hamdan on for Sultan Mandash
67'
Saudi Arabia · Yellow card · Nasser Al-Dawsari
71'
Cape Verde · Laros Duarte on for Jamiro Monteiro
71'
Cape Verde · Garry Rodrigues on for Ryan Mendes
82'
Saudi Arabia · Moteb Al-Harbi on for Nawaf Boushal
Saudi Arabia
90+1'
Match · Added time · +5'
90+3'
Saudi Arabia · Yellow card · Firas Al-Buraikan
90+4'
Cape Verde · Steven Moreira on for Kevin Pina
17 of 145 events · one shared match clock · smoothed visual interpolationline = CPV share, mirror of KSA
Tactical board - same structure across lineup states
Final lineup
Lineup
ManagerBubistaManagerGeorgios Donis
CPV
KSA
Match lens
Story1 / 4
P1 · The head-to-head story
rating + rivalry note
The head-to-head story
Cape Verde enters this matchup with a slight edge in Elo rating and superior recent form compared to Saudi Arabia. With no direct head-to-head history, the outcome may hinge on tactical discipline under tournament pressure. Cape Verde will look to leverage counter-pressure, while Saudi Arabia's success likely depends on establishing a stable shape early in the match.
Favourite read · tournament history · rivalry
Who's the favourite?
CPVFavourite
1625KSAChallenger
1593How far each has gone
Tournament history · deepest stage reached per tournament
GroupRound of 16TBD
The rivalry
No direct scored meetings in the current historical sample.
P2 · What kind of game
defending gap
What kind of game?
Cape Verde enters this match with a significantly more robust defensive profile than Saudi Arabia. With a defensive resistance score nearly double that of their opponents, Cape Verde is well-positioned to dictate the game's tempo. Their higher reliance on set-piece opportunities suggests they may look to capitalize on dead-ball situations to break down the Saudi defense.
Style match-up · bigger shape means more of that trait
CPVKSA
| Axis | CPV | KSA |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 54.6% | 51.7% |
| Defending | 9.7 resistance | 4.9 resistance |
| Set pieces | 29.2% | 12.9% |
| Threat | 0.70 xG/match | 0.49 xG/match |
P3 · Where it'll be decided
channel pressure
Where it'll be decided
The central corridor emerges as the primary battleground for both sides. With both teams heavily prioritizing central attacks, the match will likely hinge on which side can better fortify the middle of the pitch. Saudi Arabia's right-wing activity also presents a secondary pressure point that could test Cape Verde's defensive discipline.
Channel match-up · attack share against concession share
P4 · Who to watch
system-led
Who to watch
Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia rely on distinct tactical systems to dictate the match flow. Cape Verde aims to control the rhythm through possession and set-piece dominance, while Saudi Arabia looks to sustain box pressure and disrupt buildup with an aggressive high press.
Adaptive spotlight · who / what to watch
per-team branch · threat / contain
Cape Verdesystem-led
C
Control rhythm
team tactic
Possession78th
CPV are the system watch if possession keeps the match in their tempo band.
Contain it by disrupting the first pass after recovery; the cost is committing numbers forward.
SP
Set-piece pressure
team tactic
Set-piece share73th
CPV are worth watching on restarts when the first contact lands in the box.
Contain it by conceding fewer cheap restarts; the cost is defending deeper for longer spells.
Saudi Arabiasystem-led
B
Box pressure
team tactic
Box touches100th
KSA are a system watch if they keep repeat touches around the penalty area.
Contain it by protecting the top of the box; the cost is inviting wide circulation.
P
First pressure
team tactic
PPDA pressure82th
KSA can tilt the watch read if the first press turns buildup into rushed clearances.
Break it by playing over the first line; the cost is fighting for second balls.