Argentina Nearly Suffered the Biggest World Cup Upset of 2026!

The knockout stages of the tournament just delivered absolute chaos. Recently, fans witnessed a breathtaking Round of 32 clash in Miami. Cabo Verde almost pulled off a historic Argentina World Cup upset 2026. The defending champions barely survived a grueling 120-minute battle. Consequently, they secured a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory against the resilient African underdogs.

Lionel Messi Opens the Scoring Before Cabo Verde Strikes Back

The match began exactly as international football pundits predicted. Lionel Messi found the back of the net in the 28th minute. However, the passionate Cabo Verdean squad refused to surrender easily.

According to official match reports from the FIFA World Cup Hub, Deroy Duarte stunned the crowd. He delivered a brilliant equalizer in the 58th minute. To track player performance metrics, visit our Global Football Data Tracker.

Furthermore, regular time officially ended in a tense 1-1 deadlock. The stadium erupted as extra time commenced under immense pressure. The heavy favorites looked incredibly vulnerable against the high-pressing defense.

Match Stage Framework	Argentina Goals	Cabo Verde Goals
Regular Time	L. Messi (28′)	D. Duarte (58′)
Overtime Period	L. Martínez (91′)	S. Cabral (102′)
Match Winner	Diney (110′ OG)	None

Avoiding the Argentina World Cup Upset 2026

Meanwhile, the overtime periods showcased spectacular end-to-end football action. Lisandro Martínez restored the South American lead very quickly. He scored a crucial goal in the 91st minute.

However, Cabo Verde instantly responded to the massive challenge. Sidny Lopes Cabral leveled the match again at 2-2. This rapid response terrified millions of passionate global supporters.

“We suffered a lot today against a great opponent. This team knows how to fight, and Cabo Verde played an incredibly beautiful tournament.” — Lionel Scaloni, Post-Match Interview

An Own Goal Saves the Defending Champions

Ultimately, a tragic defensive error decided the entire knockout match. A 110th-minute own goal by Diney broke Cabo Verdean hearts. This unfortunate mistake sent the heavy favorites through to the next round.

In conclusion, escaping this near Argentina World Cup upset 2026 strengthens their tournament resolve. Moving forward, the defending champions will face Egypt in the Round of 16. Stay completely updated by following our comprehensive Live Football Match Archive.

Sources

• FIFA — “Round of 32: Argentina edges past Cabo Verde in extra time thriller”
• FOX Sports — “Messi and Argentina survive massive scare in Miami stadium”
• Al Jazeera — “Cabo Verde pushes World Cup holders to the absolute brink”
• The Guardian — “Argentina 3-2 Cabo Verde (AET): World Cup 2026 match report”
• Times of India — “Argentina avoid biggest World Cup shock, progress to face Egypt”