Lionel Scaloni warns players ahead of Argentina vs Cape Verde FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash
Argentina will face Cape Verde in the round of 32.
Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has advised his players not to overlook their round of 32 opponent, Cape Verde.
Lionel Scaloni’s star-studded squad will play Cape Verde. The latter recently became the smallest country by population to reach the knockout round of a men’s World Cup. They finished second in a group that had Spain, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
Cape Verde placed second in Group H, after Spain but ahead of Saudi Arabia and two-time World Cup champions Uruguay.
Lionel Scaloni has urged his players not to undervalue Cape Verde ahead of the FIFA World Cup clash
Lionel Scaloni spoke following Argentina’s 3-1 victory over Jordan on Saturday night. Cape Verde has a population of 525,000 people. It is smaller than all 50 states in the United States, with Wyoming being the closest at 576,000.
“Cape Verde didn’t surprise me, because it’s a good team. It’s a tough opponent, one that already made things difficult for Spain, one of the favorites, as well as for Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. It’s a fast team with quality.”
Cape Verde’s historic run in the 2026 World Cup so far has been surprising. Despite failing to win any of their games, they managed to qualify for the knockout round after drawing with all their group opponents.
Their ability to hold down some of the strongest teams in their group was startling. Argentina will not disregard them in the knockout phase.
Lionel Messi’s team won Group J with nine points after defeating Algeria, Austria, and Jordan to end the group stage unbeaten.
La Albiceleste will return to their base camp in Kansas City to prepare before flying to Miami, Florida, for the round of 32 encounter on July 3 against Cape Verde.
When will Argentina play Cape Verde?
On Saturday, 4th July, 3:30 am IST.
Where will the game be played?
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.