Spain open their World Cup 2026 Group H campaign against Cabo Verde on 15 June at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the first time these two nations have met. It is Cabo Verde's first World Cup appearance, earned by topping their qualifying group ahead of Cameroon but Luis de la Fuente's side will not be in a generous mood. As the world's top ranked team and reigning Euro 2024 champions, with Uruguay and Saudi Arabia waiting later in the group, a convincing opening win is something close to a requirement.
De la Fuente has been in charge since December 2022, extended through the 2028 cycle and his Spain sides press hard, keep the ball and get their best out of young players, having delivered the Nations League and then the Euros. Bubista has shaped Cabo Verde since January 2020, building a squad from the global diaspora they call the 11th Island, though neither manager nor either national team has any prior meeting to draw on.
Spain have not lost in normal time in over 28 matches, beating Peru 3-1 on 8 June, drawing 1-1 with Iraq four days earlier and beating Serbia 3-0 earlier in the spring while drawing 0-0 with Egypt. Cabo Verde have posted a win rate around 48 per cent across roughly 64 matches under Bubista, though their recent results are harder to pin down from public records.
Spain should have Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams available after both returned to training from hamstring issues, though their minutes will probably be managed with the fixture list ahead. Fermin Lopez is out with a metatarsal fracture, Mikel Merino is working his way back from a foot injury and there are no Real Madrid players in the squad at all. Cabo Verde may be without Logan Costa, who is recovering from an ACL tear, though they can rely on Vozinha in goal, a veteran approaching 40. Their squad pulls from players based in 14 countries and neither side carries any suspensions.
Spain will keep the ball, press high and stretch Cabo Verde with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams in behind and if both are involved early the damage could come quickly. The more consequential battle is between Rodri and Pedri shutting off supply to Jamiro Monteiro and Kevin Pina before it becomes a problem. Ryan Mendes and Dailon Livramento will carry the ball forward when Cabo Verde recover possession and whether Logan Costa is fit matters more than it might sound given the positional load Spain's movement will place on whoever lines up beside Pico Lopes.
Spain are dangerous from dead balls through the deliveries of Dani Olmo and Rodri arriving late into the box, while Cabo Verde can call on Willy Semedo and Jovane Cabral as outlets with Vozinha behind them, under referee Adham Mohammad Tumah Makhadmeh in Atlanta.
Spain 2-1 Cabo Verde. Spain will control the match without ever making it quite as comfortable as they probably should and Cabo Verde have the defensive organisation to stay in contention late. They are at their first World Cup with a goalkeeper and a backline that will make life difficult enough for Spain that a goal back is the likely shape of this game but Spain's squad depth and Rodri's ability to manage possession when protecting a lead should be enough to see it out, even with rotating minutes for their best attacking players.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
