Cape Verde awaits and Saudi Arabia's World Cup goes on the line

Cape Verde on Saturday, and everything is on the line

Saudi Arabia face Cape Verde in Houston on Saturday in what is a straight knockout match. Lose and the World Cup is over. Win and the last 16 is suddenly alive. Cape Verde are debutants and they are thinking the exact same thing (2) (3). Neither side has ever reached a World Cup knockout round. One of them could clear that bar this weekend.

From 4–0 to 1–1, a campaign that found its pulse

Your team opened Group H with a 4–0 defeat to Spain in Atlanta. Rodri captained the European champions, Lamine Yamal scored his first World Cup goal, and Saudi Arabia never got a foothold (2) (4). The response came against Uruguay on June 16th. Saudi Arabia 1–1 Uruguay, a point nobody expected, and suddenly the group looked different (2) (3). Spain top the group. Uruguay and Cape Verde are right there. Everything is still in front of you.

Argentina could be waiting in the round of 32

Olé ran a simulation and Argentina are the most likely opponent for whoever finishes second in Group H (1). That is a long way off. First you need to handle Cape Verde, whose centre-back Roberto Lopes has been one of the stories of the tournament. Sidny Lopes Cabral and Kevin Lenini have also caught the eye. Cape Verde are nobody's pushover (2) (3).

The Pro League is still making waves

Off the pitch the Saudi Pro League continues to pull. Leandro Trossard could land a monster salary at Al-Diraiyah, and Raphinha's potential move has caused unease around the Brazil camp. Aramco remains the tournament's energy partner, a relationship that keeps drawing scrutiny.