Argentina to face surprise debutant Cape Verde in World Cup round of 16

The Argentine national team now knows its opponent for the round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup: the unexpected debutants from Cape Verde. This matchup was not the initially predicted one, as many anticipated Argentina would face Uruguay, given Spain's strong position to win their group. However, Uruguay's disappointing performance allowed Cape Verde to seize the opportunity and advance.

Cape Verde secured their place in the knockout stage by drawing their final group match against Saudi Arabia. This result, combined with their previous performances, saw them finish ahead of Uruguay and secure a historic qualification for the next round.

Argentina, having already clinched the top spot in their group, will play their next match on Friday, July 3, in Miami. The game will be broadcast on Telefé, TyC Sports, TV Pública, and DSports, with streaming available on Disney+ Premium and Paramount+. Live minute-by-minute updates will be provided on canchallena.com.

Betting markets heavily favor Argentina to win the match, with odds reflecting their status as strong contenders. A hypothetical win for Cape Verde is priced at significantly higher odds, indicating the perceived disparity between the two teams.