Day 5 Results — June 15, 2026
In one of the most extraordinary days in World Cup history, all four matches on June 15 ended in draws — the first time this had happened on a single World Cup day since 1958. Cape Verde pulled off the shock of the tournament so far, holding European champions Spain to a stunning 0-0, while Elijah Just's brace for New Zealand was not enough to overcome a resilient Iran in a 2-2 thriller in Los Angeles.
Group G — Match Results
Egypt looked set for a famous first World Cup victory — a result that would have delighted 800 million fans across the Arab world — until Romelu Lukaku was introduced from the bench in the 65th minute. Within 22 seconds of entering the field, the Belgian giant forced Mohamed Hany into a crucial own goal from Thomas Meunier's cross, snatching a share of the spoils for the Red Devils. Emam Ashour had given Egypt the lead with a clinical strike into the bottom-left corner in the 19th minute, silencing the stadium. Coincidentally, it was also Mohamed Salah's birthday — but the Liverpool superstar watched his country's historic victory slip away in the dying moments.
In one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament so far, New Zealand's Elijah Just wrote his name into All Whites folklore by becoming the first player in his country's history to score a brace in a single World Cup match. The Motherwell winger put the All Whites ahead in just the 7th minute and added his second in the 54th to give New Zealand a stunning 2-1 lead. Iran, however, showed enormous character. Ramin Rezaeian equalised in the 32nd minute with a brilliantly taken strike, and Mohammad Mohebbi powered a header home in the 64th minute to rescue a draw for Team Melli. A breathtaking Group G opener that leaves all four teams perfectly level on points.
Group H — Match Results
The result that shook the world. In their very first World Cup match, Cape Verde — the small Atlantic archipelago nation of just 500,000 people — held Euro 2024 champions Spain to a goalless draw. Goalkeeper Vozinha was magnificent, producing save after save to deny Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Pedri. Spain, who came into the match as heavy favourites, were left stunned. It is now four World Cup games without a win for La Roja — their worst run in the tournament since the early 1990s. For Cape Verde coach Pedro Leitão Brito, the words were simple: "This means everything for our country."
Saudi Arabia gave themselves an excellent platform in Group H with a disciplined and energetic performance against Uruguay. Abdulelah Al-Amri fired the Green Falcons in front in the 41st minute with a rebound goal, and for much of the second half they looked set to claim all three points. Uruguay, however, have never known when to give up. Maxi Araújo struck in the 80th minute to rescue a point for Marcelo Bielsa's side, though La Celeste will know they must improve significantly if they are to challenge in Group H. Both sides shared the spoils in what was a tense and competitive opener at Hard Rock Stadium.
What It Means — Group Standings After Day 5
After the first round of matches in Groups G and H, all eight teams are locked together with one point each. The standings are as congested as it gets, meaning matchday 2 will be pivotal for all sides.
Group G Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Egypt | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Iran | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Group H Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cape Verde | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Saudi Arabia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Uruguay | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
For Spain, the result is particularly alarming. They arrived in Atlanta as one of the favourites for the tournament, armed with Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Rodri. A 0-0 draw in their opening match leaves them in a difficult position — they cannot afford to drop further points against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia if they want to top Group H. For more on the group's history, see our full Spain vs Cape Verde preview.
In Group G, Belgium's Lukaku sub that forced the OG gave them a crucial lifeline, but it remains to be seen if Rudi Garcia can unlock a side that largely looked laboured in the first half. See our Belgium vs Egypt preview for more context on what both teams were expected to deliver.
Today's Upcoming Matches — June 16, 2026
- France vs Senegal (Group I) — 3:00 PM ET / 19:00 UTC · MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- Iraq vs Norway (Group I) — 6:00 PM ET / 22:00 UTC · Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- Argentina vs Algeria (Group J) — 9:00 PM ET / 01:00 UTC (Jun 17) · Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Day 6 brings two enormous Group I clashes as France — led by Kylian Mbappé — open against Senegal in a rematch of 2002's iconic upset. Later, Lionel Messi leads defending champions Argentina against Algeria in a match Messi could make his record 200th international appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Egypt's Emam Ashour opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a powerful strike. Belgium's equalizer came via a Mohamed Hany own goal in the 66th minute — seconds after Romelu Lukaku entered the pitch, his presence forcing the error.
Elijah Just scored twice for New Zealand — in the 7th and 54th minutes — making him the first All White to score a brace in a single World Cup game. Iran equalised through Ramin Rezaeian (32') and Mohammad Mohebbi (64').
It is the first time since June 15, 1958 — exactly 68 years earlier — that every match played on a single day at the FIFA World Cup ended in a draw. All four matches on Day 5 (Groups G and H openers) finished level.