On June 22nd Beijing time, the second round of Group H matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup continued. Following a 0-0 draw against tournament favorites Spain in their opening match, Cape Verde, an African island nation with a population of under half a million, pulled off another surprise. The team came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against South American powerhouse Uruguay, successfully claiming a point from the formidable opponent.

For Cape Verde, making their first-ever appearance in the World Cup finals, this result represents more than just another valuable point; it is a match that will be etched into the nation's football history.

In the 21st minute, Cape Verde player Kevin Pina scored directly from a free-kick, netting the first-ever goal for the Cape Verde national team in World Cup history. Facing two-time world champions Uruguay, Cape Verde not only achieved a historic milestone but also proved once again they are not merely fleeting participants on the world's biggest stage. Although Uruguay later turned the game around with goals from Araujo and Canobbio, Cape Verde did not give up. In the 61st minute of the second half, substitute Élio capitalized on an opponent's mistake to score the equalizer, bringing the final score to 2-2.

On June 16th Beijing time, Cape Verde held Spain to a 0-0 draw in their World Cup debut. The 40-year-old Cape Verdean goalkeeper, Vozinha, faced 27 shots from Spain, made 7 crucial saves to keep a clean sheet, and was ultimately named Player of the Match.

Just days later, they again came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Uruguay, securing points from traditional football giants in consecutive matches and establishing themselves as one of the tournament's most delightful "super underdogs."

On another front, Curaçao, a small Caribbean island with a population of only about 160,000, is also consistently rewriting its history. Previously, they scored their first-ever World Cup goal against the formidable German team. Then, in their second group match yesterday, they held another South American stronghold, Ecuador, to a 0-0 draw. During that match, goalkeeper Room made 15 effective saves, setting a new World Cup record for saves in a non-extra-time match since 1966. He became the latest "small-nation goalkeeping hero" to make a name for himself in this tournament, following in the footsteps of Cape Verde's Vozinha.

From Cape Verde to Curaçao, from Vozinha to Room, this World Cup is continuously showcasing stories of "small nations challenging the giants." While disparities in resources, population, and player value persist, an increasing number of teams are gaining access to data analysis and tactical preparation capabilities that bring them closer to traditional powerhouses.

It is important to note that these upsets are far from accidental. Dubbed by some as the "first AI World Cup," the standout moments of these smaller nations also highlight how technology is reshaping another aspect of the football world. In the past, high-level data analysis capabilities were typically the domain of traditional giants. Strong teams could rely on vast professional teams, long-accumulated data systems, and abundant technical resources to meticulously dissect every opponent and tactical variation. Today, AI is democratizing this capability. Now, smaller and medium-sized teams can also systematically study opponents, review their own performances with greater clarity, and understand match details more efficiently.

As FIFA's Official Technology Partner, LENOVO GROUP (00992) is comprehensively revolutionizing tournament innovation with its end-to-end AI capabilities across all domains. The AI technology ecosystem it has built is also serving this World Cup, with AI participating in tournament operations in unprecedented ways—from team tactical analysis and event management to referee assistance and decision visualization.

Among these innovations is the FIFA AI Pro World Cup Football AI Super Agent, created by LENOVO GROUP and made available to all 48 participating teams. Functioning as a "tactical brain" for teams, this platform can process millions of data points in real-time and analyze over 2,000 match metrics. It compresses post-match analysis work that previously took two days into just two hours. This provides coaches and analysts from all 48 teams with more efficient and intuitive decision-making support, thereby promoting "football democratization."

According to a source familiar with FIFA AI Pro, nearly 40 of the participating teams have activated and are using the platform so far in this tournament. Beyond the traditional powerhouses, many teams with relatively limited resources are also maintaining high levels of activity on the platform. The source revealed that after some matches, certain teams have engaged in over ten rounds of in-depth questioning regarding opponent tactics, self-performance analysis, and match review, seeking comprehensive decision-making support through AI. Simultaneously, the tournament's referee team has become a significant user of the platform, using it for continuous review and questioning to enhance officiating and match management efficiency.

The success of nations like Cape Verde and Curaçao is a microcosm of the trend where AI is narrowing information gaps and enabling more participating teams to access equitable resources. At this World Cup, innovative technologies like Lenovo AI are becoming new variables behind these miracles. They do not eliminate the suspense of football but instead grant more teams the opportunity to get closer to their dreams.

From Cape Verde to Curaçao, from first-ever goals to consecutive upsets, this World Cup is continually proving that as technological resources become more widely accessible, the world of football becomes more open. And this, perhaps, is the most significant legacy worth recording from the "first AI World Cup."