Cape Verde meets Argentina in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL on July 3, 2026. Here’s how to watch live on TV.
- Time: 6:00 PM ET
- Location: Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
- TV Channels: FOX, Telemundo
How to Watch Cape Verde vs. Argentina on July 3, 2026
You can watch Argentina take on Cape Verde live on DIRECTV on FOX and Telemundo on July 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM ET.
Cape Verde vs. Argentina — Round of 32 Match Preview
Cape Verde and Argentina meet in the Round of 32 at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, a knockout tie that pairs a World Cup debutant with the defending champions. Cape Verde reached the bracket without losing a group match, drawing all three for a 0-3-0 record on its first-ever appearance at the tournament, a run that began by holding Spain to a 0-0 draw and the nation’s first World Cup point. Argentina came through with a perfect 3-0-0 record and arrives chasing the first back-to-back men’s title since Brazil in 1962. Lionel Messi has driven that push, scoring 6 goals across three group matches, while Lautaro Martínez has added another to give Lionel Scaloni’s side a two-pronged threat up front.
Cape Verde’s response is a diaspora-built squad drawn from players across 14 countries, with Kevin Pina and Hélio Varela each scoring once in the group stage. The contrast in pedigree could hardly be starker, a first-time qualifier against a three-time champion, but Cape Verde has already made history by reaching this stage, and a disciplined low block with quick transitions is the kind of plan that can unsettle even a decorated opponent. Argentina will be wary of any complacency against a side playing with freedom. With a place in the Round of 16 on the line, one of the tournament’s most improbable runs meets its stiffest challenge.
National TV
FOX, Telemundo
What Time is the Argentina vs. Cape Verde Match Today?
The Cape Verde vs. Argentina match starts at 6:00 PM ET.
Where Can I Watch Cape Verde vs. Argentina?
You can watch Cape Verde vs. Argentina on FOX and Telemundo.
Players to Watch: Cape Verde vs. Argentina
Cape Verde
Hélio Varela — Forward. Varela scored once in two group-stage appearances, providing a focal point for a Cape Verde attack that thrives on quick, direct moves. He works the channels and holds the ball up to bring runners into play, a role that becomes even more important against Argentina’s high line. A single clinical moment from him could be the difference in a match Cape Verde will likely spend defending.
Kevin Pina — Midfielder. Pina found the net once across three group matches and has been one of Cape Verde’s most active attacking midfielders, both creating and finishing. His energy in transition is central to how Cape Verde breaks forward after winning the ball. If the debutants are to spring a surprise, Pina’s ability to carry play upfield quickly will be a big reason why.
Ryan Mendes — Forward. Mendes led Cape Verde with 4 total shots in the group stage, a veteran unafraid to test goalkeepers from distance. His experience steadies a young squad in the biggest moments it has ever faced. On the break, his movement and shooting give Cape Verde a way to make Argentina pay for any lapse.
Argentina
Lionel Messi — Forward. Messi has been the story of Argentina’s group stage, scoring 6 goals across three matches to power the defending champions into the knockout rounds. Even inside a deep and talented squad, he remains the player opponents build their entire plan around. Cape Verde will need a disciplined, collective effort to keep him quiet, because giving him even a half-yard near the box has been punished all tournament.
Giovani Lo Celso — Midfielder. Lo Celso made his group-stage cameo count, finding the net in his single appearance to give Scaloni another creative option in the center. His ability to thread passes between the lines helps Argentina pull apart packed defenses, exactly the sort Cape Verde is likely to set. If he starts, he offers a different rhythm to Argentina’s buildup.
Facundo Medina — Defender. Medina chipped in with 1 assist across two group-stage appearances, a sign that Argentina’s defenders are comfortable stepping into the attack. His reading of the game and willingness to carry the ball forward give Scaloni flexibility at the back. Against Cape Verde’s counterattacking threat, his positioning will matter as much as his passing.
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