A couple of groups have a game like this -- one team (Cape Verde in this case, Belgium later) will advance with a win and will be very good shape with a draw, while the other team (Saudi Arabia now, New Zealand later) will either win and advance or fail to win and fly home.

Cape Verde have already posted one of the greatest underdog performances in World Cup history, managing draws against traditional powerhouses Spain and Uruguay, the former on a stupendous shot-stopping stint by the 40-year-old goalkeeper they call Vozinha. His Instagram following has grown from about 50,000 to a current total of 16.7 million, and increase of more than 33,000%.

The island nation, which lies 600km west of Senegal, had never made it to the final tournament until this year. They’ve done so in an ideal situation, playing in front of the substantial diaspora in the United States.

I have to mention a quick personal note on Saudi Arabia. In 1994, I repeatedly called the phone number for World Cup tickets. When I got through, I basically asked which game I could get. “How about Belgium vs. Saudi Arabia?” they said. “Great,” I said. “Let’s do it.” So my then-girlfriend and I traveled up to Washington, where I would end up living four years later, to see two teams of complete strangers as far as I knew.

And I just happened to see the best goal of the tournament, with Said Al-Owairan doing his impression of Maradona vs. England. (The *good* goal, not the Hand of God.)

But that’s the last time Saudi Arabia have reached the knockout rounds, despite stunning Argentina 2-1 in the two teams’ 2022 opener.

Lest we forget – Saudi Arabia will host this event in 2034.

This is the first matchup between two countries separated by the width of Africa and a few hundred miles of water.