Atlanta's World Cup opener delivers drama and surprise

• The verdict: High drama and suspense on the field and plenty of options outside the gates for people who can sneak out of work to watch a noon game.

Vibes: So far, so good, though the crowds outside the venue thinned after kickoff.

• Go experience the game-day atmosphere and the restaurants, shops and bars in Centennial Yards, South Downtown, Underground Atlanta that are now open.
• MARTA trains were packed in the hours leading up to kickoff, with plenty of ambassadors and police on the platforms.

Zoom in: Nearly 68,000 people attended the match between Cape Verde, which has a population similar to Atlanta's, and Spain, the No. 3-ranked men's national team in the world as of Monday.

• With the score tied at halftime, even Spain fans started cheering for Cape Verde.

The bottom line: A draw against Spain is basically a win for Cape Verde, whose goalkeeper, Vozinha, held back Spain's world-class offense shot after shot.

• Speaking to reporters afterward, the goalie said he cried after the game thinking about his late grandparents, who helped raise him, and his mother, who could not afford a visa to watch him play in his country's first World Cup appearance.

What they're saying: "I love this city," Cape Verde's Steven Moreira, who's played at the stadium against Atlanta United as a member of Major League Soccer team Columbus Crew, told reporters afterward.

By the numbers: A bottle of water and hot dog will cost you a fraction of what you'll pay at other World Cup U.S. venues.

• Arthur Blank, whose company AMB Sports and Entertainment operates the stadium, told the Athletic that hiking the venue's famously low concessions prices to reap World Cup profits was a non-starter.

Pro tip: Pop-up FIFA stores where fans can purchase official merchandise are located throughout the stadium. The store at Gate 1 on the ground level inside had the shortest lines during game time and halftime.

What's next: South Africa plays the Czech Republic on Thursday.