A remarkable statistic has emerged from the opening Group Stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Spain and Cape Verde played to a 0-0 draw. In this match, the African side achieved a historic milestone by committing just one foul, the fewest ever recorded by any team in a World Cup match since 1966, when complete tournament broadcasts first began.
According to noted statistician MisterChip (Alexis), this impressive defensive performance by Cape Verde sets a new benchmark in World Cup history. Prior to this, the lowest number of fouls in a single match was three, which had been recorded by Costa Rica in their game against Germany in 2022 and Germany in their match against Chile in 1974.
Alongside Cape Verde’s achievement, Spain’s forward matched an unwanted record from 1966 during this match. This highlights a series of notable statistics emerging from the tournament as teams strive for excellence on the world stage.