Spain out of World Cup after Cabo Verde shock

Spain stunned by Cabo Verde, out of the World Cup

It is over. Spain were eliminated from the World Cup by Cabo Verde in the round of 32 (2). A team playing in their first World Cup knockout match just sent your team home. There is no sugar-coating this. Cabo Verde now face Lionel Messi and Argentina in the next round, and Spain are on the plane (2).

Bookmakers had France, Spain drifted hard

Before the tournament, Spain's odds fell sharply as confidence dipped (4). France were installed as favorites. The win over Uruguay in the group stage felt like the moment things clicked, but that looks distant now (4).

Aitana on the Austria win: goosebumps

Singer Aitana watched Spain beat Austria in the group stage and put it simply: "Piel de gallina" (1). Goosebumps. That reaction captured the energy around the team after the group stage. It feels like a different tournament now.

Fan reactions

Stunned silence, mostly. The fan subreddit had been buzzing about a possible Spain–Portugal clash, with one user noting 12 of the last 18 meetings between the two had ended in a draw, and that this would have been their first World Cup meeting since 2018. None of that matters now. The Chattanooga training base sent the team off with a thank-you post that now reads like a goodbye. Full thread