WC PROGNOSTICATION: Will a dominant Argentina beat Cinderella Cape Verde by at least 2 goals on Fri?
86% of users predicted YES — the community missed this one. 44 predictions cast.
Argentina defeated Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time in the World Cup round of 32 on July 3, 2026, a one-goal margin that fell short of the two-goal victory the question required, resolving it no. The defending champions did not dominate; they needed the full 120 minutes to survive against a tournament debutant.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, but Deroy Duarte equalized to force extra time. Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina's lead before Sidny Lopes Cabral leveled again, and Cristian Romero's header ultimately secured the win. Cape Verde, among the smallest nations by population ever to reach the World Cup knockout stage, pushed the reigning champions to the brink before falling.
The result underscored the unpredictability of the expanded 48-team tournament, in which several favorites labored against lower-ranked opponents. The community forecast missed the outcome: 86 percent of participants expected a dominant Argentina to win by at least two goals, but the match instead produced a narrow, closely contested result that required extra time to decide.