FIFA WC 2026: When and where to watch Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia, know all details
Houston, June 26
Cabo Verde will clash with Saudi Arabia in their last group stage match at the NRG Stadium in Houston on Saturday.
Cabo Verde have emerged as one of the tournament's biggest surprise packages. Making their World Cup debut, they have impressed in their opening two matches by earning hard-fought draws against tournament heavyweights Spain and Uruguay. Those results have left the African nation on the brink of a historic qualification, with just one win separating them from a place in the last 32.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, came into the contest after a difficult 4-0 defeat to reigning European champions Spain. Although the scoreline appeared one-sided, the Saudis were punished by Spain's clinical finishing and relentless attacking play, conceding three goals within the opening 25 minutes. Their overall performance was not without positives, but they struggled to cope with the pace and precision of the Spanish attack.
Despite that setback, Saudi Arabia remains firmly in contention for progression. Like Cabo Verde, they know that three points in this decisive encounter should be enough to book their place in the knockout stages, setting up a high-stakes battle between two teams chasing history.
How to watch Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia live in India:
Live streaming and live telecast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 football matches will be available on the Zee5 platform and app in India. A subscription will be needed.
Live telecast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be available on the Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD TV channels in India.
Key details
Date and kick-off time: Saturday, June 27, 5:30 AM IST
Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston
Referee: François Letexier
Squads:
Cabo Verde-
Goalkeepers: Vozinha, Marcio Rosa, C.J. dos Santos
Defenders: Diney Borges, Sidny Cabral, Logan Costa, Steven Moreira, Wagner Pina, Joao Paulo Fernandes, Roberto 'Pico' Lopes, Kelvin Pires, lLanique'Stopira' Tavares
Midfielders: Telmo Arcanjo, Laros Duarte, Deroy Duarte, Jamiro Monteiro, Kevin Pina, Yannick Semedo
Forwards: Gilson Benchimol, Jovane Cabral, Nuno da Costa, Dailon Livramento, Ryan Mendes, Garry Rodrigues, Willy Semedo, Helio Varela
Saudi Arabia -
Goalkeepers: Ahmed Al-Kassar, Mohammed Al-Owais, Nawaf Al-Aqidi
Defenders: Saud Abdulhamid, Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, Khalid Al-Ghannam, Moteb Al-Harbi, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Nawaf Boushal, Hassan
Kadesh, Ali Lajami, Ali Majrashi, Hassan Tambakti, Jehad Thikri
Midfielders: Nasser Al-Dawsari, Alaa Al-Hajji, Ziyad Al-Johani, Musab Al-Juwayr, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Mohammed Kanno, Sultan Mandash,
Ayman Yahya
Forwards: Feras Al-Brikan, Salem Al-Dawsari, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Saleh Al-Shehri
— IANS
Reader Comments
I know it's a World Cup match, but 5:30 AM IST kick-off is brutal for fans in India. It's like they want us to fall asleep before the first goal. At least we have Zee5 and those Unite8 Sports channels. Hoping Saudi Arabia bounces back after that Spain loss—they looked good in patches despite the 4-0 scoreline.
Honestly, seeing African teams like Cabo Verde do so well makes me proud. From their struggles to qualify to now being the underdogs everyone wants to see succeed—this is what football is about. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's defeat to Spain shows how European powerhouses can punish small mistakes. Should be a cracker of a game, whoever wins deserves it.
As someone who watches a lot of ISL and follows Asian football, I feel for Saudi Arabia. They have talent in players like Salem Al-Dawsari and Feras Al-Brikan, but the gulf in quality against Spain was clear. Still, this match is a great chance to prove themselves. Cabo Verde's energy is infectious though—what a debut! 🏆
I think the scheduling for Indian viewers is a bit unfair—5:30 AM is too early for most working people. But for a World Cup game with such high stakes, I might set an alarm. Cabo Verde have shown incredible discipline in defense, drawing with Spain and Uruguay is no fluke. Saudi Arabia will need to be more clinical than they were against Spain.
Good luck to both teams—it's rare to see two sides this motivated in a group stage match.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.