Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde (aet): World Cup 2026 last 32, extra time – as it happened

The brief

Argentina defeated Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time, advancing to the last 32 of the World Cup 2026. The match was played in a high-intensity atmosphere, with Cape Verde putting up a valiant effort against the world champions. Argentina's victory came despite being outperformed by Cape Verde in terms of expected goals, with the Cape Verdean team creating several scoring opportunities in the extra period. The match was marked by intense heat and physical exertion, which may impact Argentina's performance in future matches. Cape Verde's players were left devastated by their narrow loss, while Argentina celebrated their victory with relief and exhaustion.