Cape Verde advanced to the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup for the first time after drawing Saudi Arabia 0-0 on Friday to finish second in Group H and set up a round-of-32 match against defending champion Argentina.
The draw gave Cape Verde three points from three matches, enough to secure second place behind Spain, which defeated Uruguay 1-0 to top the group.
Cape Verde will face Lionel Messi and Argentina at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on July 3.
“To us, nothing is impossible,” Cape Verde coach Bubista said after the match.
Uruguay exited the tournament with two points after its 2-2 draw against Cape Verde in the previous round and Spain’s victory over the South Americans on Friday.
Spain secured first place despite injuries to Yeremy Pino, who suffered a shoulder injury, and Nico Williams, who sustained a muscle problem.
The Group H results also confirmed the advancement of England, Portugal, Ghana, Egypt and Paraguay to the knockout stage.
Earlier Friday, France defeated Norway 4-1 to finish first in Group I.
Ousmane Dembele scored a first-half hat trick before Desire Doue added a goal in stoppage time to seal France’s third straight win of the tournament.
“I believe we need to stay focused because there are important things ahead,” Dembele said after the match.
Norway left striker Erling Haaland on the bench, while France forward Kylian Mbappe started the match.
France coach Didier Deschamps did not lead the team after leaving earlier in the week following the death of his mother.
Players from both teams observed a moment of silence before kickoff to honor the victims of the Venezuela earthquake.
France will face Sweden in the round of 32, while Norway will play Ivory Coast in Dallas on June 30 for a place in the round of 16.
Senegal also advanced to the knockout stage after defeating Iraq 5-0 in its final group match.
