The knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup continues with a matchup that has already been dubbed “the ultimate mismatch” of the tournament: The all-powerful Argentina faces Cape Verde in the early hours of Saturday (1:00 a.m.) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, vying for a spot in the Round of 16.

Argentina had an… easy time in Group 10, finishing with 3 out of 3 wins and comfortably securing first place. The knockout bracket worked in their favor, clearing the path all the way to the semifinals, while the Albiceleste entered the tournament riding the momentum of their victory in Qatar, with Lionel Messi in top form.

Victories over Algeria (3-0), Austria (2-0), and Jordan (3-1) came easily, with the 39-year-old GOAT resting during the final group stage match and entering the game in the 60th minute, scoring his sixth goal of the tournament with a simple free kick. He thus reached a total of 19 World Cup goals, an all-time record.

Lionel Scaloni gave several bench players some playing time against Jordan, but their performance wasn’t enough to change his starting lineup. Argentina has been built as a cohesive unit, with clear roles centered around Messi, patience in their passing game, and the necessary toughness when needed. The victory over Jordan was the “Albiceleste’s” 10th consecutive win, having conceded a goal in only two of those matches.

The team traveled to Miami on Wednesday to acclimate to the match environment, at a stadium where Argentina recently won the Copa América.

On the other hand, Cape Verde is living the greatest soccer fairy tale in its history. In its first appearance in the World Cup finals, not only did it not falter, but it also advanced undefeated from Group 11, keeping two clean sheets and earning three draws against powerhouse teams.

In their opener in Atlanta, they struggled against Spain, but their deep-lying defense held firm, and goalkeeper Vozinha went viral for his saves in the 0-0 draw. In Miami, against Uruguay, Cape Verde took the lead with a long-range free kick, held their ground despite conceding an equalizer before halftime, and capitalized on another mistake by Muslera to tie the game at 2-2. In the frantic final 20 minutes, they even had a chance at a historic victory.

In their final group stage match against Saudi Arabia, they had strong chances to win the game, but the 0-0 draw was enough to secure second place.

Center back Diney was once again the standout, leading a tough defensive line that plays with intensity, although the quality up front is limited. The “Blue Sharks” head to Miami as the clear underdogs, with Sidney Cabral (right back) making a key return after serving a suspension. Rolling back Arcanzo is unlikely to be ready due to injury.

Possible starting lineups:

Argentina (Scaloni): Dibu Martínez – Molina – Romero – Lisandro Martínez – Medina – De Paul – Fernández – McAllister – Almada – Messi – Lautaro.

Cape Verde (Bubista): Vozinha – Sidney Cabral – Diney – Pico Lopes – Moreira – Lenin Pina – Mendes – Jovan Cabral – Dreo Duarte – Monteiro – Livramento.

*photo source: AP