Argentina advanced in a major tournament after a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde on July 4, 2026.
The South American champions faced a resilient opponent that twice equalized.
>>> Kamloops Businesses See Revenue Boost from Canada's World Cup Run
Cape Verde's Deroy Duarte scored a historic crossed shot to level the score first.
Later, Sidny Lopes Cabral struck spectacularly to cancel out an own goal forced by Cristian Romero that had given Argentina a temporary lead.
The decisive moment came in extra time when defender Lisandro Martínez scored to restore Argentina's advantage, sealing Cape Verde's elimination.
Reaction from the Argentina Camp
Captain Lionel Messi commented on the squad's resilience, saying, "Esta selección compite hasta el final." Manager Lionel Scaloni, emotional after the match, stated, "Este equipo nunca se rinde."
>>> Environment Canada Tracks New Severe Thunderstorm Cluster over Saskatchewan
Scaloni added that the team rose to the occasion.
Defender Nicolás Tagliafico noted the pressure, saying, "Todos nos van a jugar a muerte, pero nosotros también vamos a jugar a muerte."
Midfielder Leandro Paredes admitted the team endured more pressure than anticipated, stating, "Nos tocó sufrir más de lo que nos gusta."
>>> Argentina to Face Egypt in World Cup Round of 16
With this victory, Argentina moves to the next round. Colombia will face Ghana in Kansas City in their upcoming fixture.
