A historic unwanted record has emerged in the opening Group Stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Spain faced Cape Verde. This encounter produced a notable statistical anomaly.
Details: According to Opta, Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal made history as the first player since 1966 to play the first 30 minutes of a FIFA World Cup match without touching the ball. This statistic highlights an unusual aspect of the game.
In another significant development, Cape Verde made history by becoming the first African nation in 24 years to avoid defeat in its first-ever FIFA World Cup match, marking a notable achievement for the team.