World Cup 2026 Results — 21 June: Spain Cruise, Cape Verde Make History

If you set an alarm or simply refused to go to bed, Sunday night was the kind of World Cup shift that rewards the committed Irish viewer. RTÉ are carrying all 104 games this summer, and the catch is the one we all clocked back when the schedule dropped: the good stuff lands late in Irish Standard Time. Those who stayed up got Spain in full flow, a genuine slice of football history from a Cape Verde side nobody outside the Atlantic islands had pencilled in, and a Belgium performance that will have had the neutrals reaching for the kettle.

Here is how the Sunday card shook out, with the numbers that matter for anyone keeping a betting eye on the group stage.

Spain 4–0 Saudi Arabia — La Roja find their gears

This was the night Spain looked like the European champions they are. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring early (reports differ on whether it was the 10th or 11th minute — the finish was the same regardless), and once Mikel Oyarzabal struck twice inside three minutes, on 21 and 23 minutes, the contest was effectively over before the half-hour. An Al-Tambakti own goal four minutes after the restart made it four.

The 4–0 result lifts Spain to four points and, per the match reports, books their passage through to the Round of 32 at the top of Group H. For a side priced at 11/2 to win the tournament outright (FOX Sports/FanDuel board, as of 21 June 2026, converted to fractional for Irish books), that is exactly the kind of statement performance the market wanted to see.

Uruguay 2–2 Cape Verde — a goal for the history books

Here is your romance for the weekend. Cape Verde — population around half a million, smaller than Cork and Limerick combined — went toe to toe with Uruguay and came away with a point. Dailon Pina’s strike on 21 minutes was the first World Cup goal in the nation’s history, and Sidny Varela’s equaliser on 61 minutes earned a 2–2 draw after Uruguay had turned it around through Ronald Araújo (44′) and Agustín Canobbio (45+6′).

If you’ve ever stood in a pub roaring on the smallest team in the room — and as Irish supporters, that is more or less our default setting — this was a result to warm to. Cape Verde now sit on two points from two games, very much alive in Group H.

Belgium 0–0 Iran — the Red Devils stall again

Belgium’s so-called golden generation is fast becoming a cautionary tale. A second successive draw, this time a goalless one against a stubborn Iran, leaves them on two points and chasing the game in Group G. It didn’t help that Nathan Ngoy was sent off on 66 minutes, leaving them to see out the closing stages a man down.

Egypt 3–1 New Zealand — Salah lifts Egypt top

Mohamed Salah did what Mohamed Salah does. After New Zealand had taken a shock early lead (the 15th minute, with one outlet logging it on 18), Egypt responded through Zizo (58′), Salah himself (67′) and Trezeguet (82′) to run out 3–1 winners. The result is Egypt’s first of the tournament and it sends them top of Group G on four points — a fine bit of business in a tight pool.

Group standings after Sunday’s games

Two groups were reshaped on the night. Here is where things stand.

Group H

Group G

Tables as of the 22 June snapshot in the daily fact pack.

What it means for the Irish punter

From a betting standpoint, two themes carry into the week. First, Spain are quietly building the kind of momentum that makes their 11/2 outright price look fair rather than generous — they have scored four, conceded nothing of note, and topped a group without breaking sweat. Second, Group G has become a genuine three-way scrap: Egypt, Iran and Belgium are separated by a single point with everything to play for, and that is the sort of unsettled pool where a value bet on a “to qualify” market can pay better than backing the obvious names.

For the rest of us, the takeaway is simpler. Keep the coffee on. The late nights are only going to get bigger from here.

Odds shown are converted to fractional format for Irish bookmakers and were accurate as of the timestamp noted; always check the live price before betting. 18+, gamble responsibly.