Argentina vs Cape Verde Prediction, Tips & Match Preview

Argentina vs Cape Verde Match Preview

The Round of 32 sends Argentina and Cape Verde to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Friday 3 July, a tie between the reigning world champions and the tournament’s standout underdog story.

Argentina won Group J with a perfect nine points, while Cape Verde reached the knockout stage on their World Cup debut, the smallest nation ever to do so.

It is the first meeting between the two nations, and on paper it is one of the most lopsided ties of the round.

Lionel Scaloni’s side will be overwhelming favourites, but Cape Verde have already shown they can frustrate elite opposition, and the winner advances to a Round of 16 meeting in Atlanta.

Champions Against the Fairytale

Argentina arrive ruthless and rested. They swept through their group with maximum points, and Lionel Messi has been the dominant figure of the tournament, breaking the all-time World Cup scoring record before being given the Jordan game off to stay fresh.

Cristian Romero and Julian Alvarez have shaken off minor knocks, leaving Scaloni close to a full-strength squad packed with quality from Lautaro Martinez and Alvarez up front to Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez in midfield.

Cape Verde are built on defiance. Their entire approach is to pack men behind the ball and frustrate, a method that earned three draws and a goalless stalemate with Spain, with veteran goalkeeper Vozinha producing heroics throughout. They carry little attacking threat, having scored just twice in the group, but they are organised, disciplined and impossible to take lightly.

Everything points to Argentina controlling the game and probing a deep Cape Verde block for long spells. The underdogs will sit in and hope to keep the score down, but the gulf in quality is vast, and Argentina have the patience and the match-winners to break through more than once.

Argentina vs Cape Verde Match Prediction

The best bet for this match is Argentina to win both halves at 2.10. Argentina’s quality and depth should tell across the full ninety minutes against a side that defends deep, and their ability to score in spells either side of the interval makes a two-half victory the likeliest path.

We also find value in backing Argentina to score a penalty at 4.00. Cape Verde will spend long periods defending inside their own area with bodies everywhere, the kind of pressure that invites fouls in the box, and Argentina carry reliable penalty takers to convert.

The Correct Score Prediction is Argentina 3-0 at 6.50, reflecting a comfortable win for the champions against a stubborn but limited Cape Verde side that struggles to threaten at the other end.

Arun- June 28, 2026

Argentina vs Cape Verde Betting Tips

Argentina to Win Both Halves

OK

2.10 Odds

Argentina To Score A Penalty

OK

4.00 Odds

Argentina 3-0

OK

6.50 Odds