Cape Verde Islands 0-0 Saudi Arabia result, stats and report

Argentina survived a genuinely uncomfortable night in extra time against Cape Verde Islands, winning 3-2 in a match that exposed real structural concerns behind the scoreline. Sophie Hargreaves breaks down what the numbers cannot fully explain.

Cape Verde Islands held Saudi Arabia to a goalless draw in their World Cup 2026 group stage encounter, a result that keeps the Sharks alive but leaves the Saudis staring at an early exit after conceding four goals without reply in their previous game.

Uruguay dropped two points against Cape Verde Islands in a 2-2 World Cup group stage draw, and while the scoreline surprised many, the underlying numbers suggested a far more competitive fixture than the market ever priced in.

Richard Hughes has left Liverpool as sporting director after just 15 months to join Al Hilal, walking out with 21 months still on his contract weeks after sanctioning a £200m summer rebuild. His exit compounds instability at Anfield's decision-making core as FSG faces a second major leadership vacancy in barely a year.

Gabriel Martinelli has left Arsenal for Al-Hilal in a £60m deal, ending seven years in north London after Mikel Arteta told him he wasn't part of his plans. Unlike previous Saudi Pro League signings, the 25-year-old Brazil international is leaving Europe still in his footballing prime, a shift that could reshape how clubs assess the threat of Saudi recruitment.

Aston Villa have entered official talks with Chelsea over Nicolas Jackson, with a £60m-plus package on the table and Unai Emery driving a reunion with his former Villarreal forward, as Ollie Watkins's own Villa future grows increasingly uncertain.

Manchester City have agreed to sell Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah for £52m, a year after signing him from AC Milan, as BBC Sport and ESPN report slightly different fee figures. The move looks like the first concrete sign of a midfield rebuild following Pep Guardiola's exit, with Rodri's future and interest in Enzo Fernandez the next threads to watch.