Overview:
La Roja have been disappointing in the past world cups since 2010 failing to qualify from the group in 2014 and falling at the round of 16 in subsequent finals in 2018 and 2022.
Monday June 15, 2026
- Atlanta stadium 7pm [EAT]
European champions Spain enter fray bidding a perfect start in the 2026 Fifa World Cup when they face African debutants Cape Verde on Monday.
La Roja have been disappointing in the past world cups since 2010 failing to qualify from the group in 2014 and falling at the round of 16 in subsequent finals in 2018 and 2022.
Favourites alongside France, holders Argentina and Germany, Spain will be outright favourites in this tie as well.
In a group, H that has Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, Spain have no excuses against the Cape Verde who qualified for the world cup finals at the expense of Cameroon.
De La Fuente, Spain head coach has been boosted by the return of youngsters Lamine Yamala and Nico Williams to training after suffering minor injuries.
But Victor Munoz is a doubt due to muscular overload, so there could be starts for Ferran Torres and Alex Baena alongside Mikel Oyarzabal in the final third of the field with Pedro Porro starting at right back.
It is in the middle where Spain appear strongest with Fabian Ruiz, Rodri and Pedri set to feature as the midfield three in Spain’s 2026 World Cup opener.
Cape Verde, meanwhile, have no fitness concerns heading into the contest with La Roja.
Ryan Mendes is Cape Verde’s highest goalscorer of all time, finding the back of the net on 22 occasions in 97 caps, and the 36-year-old is set to feature in the starting side.
There is also expected to be a spot in the XI for Dailon Livramento, who has seven goals in 22 caps, while Villarreal’s Logan Costa will be a starter at the back.
Elsewhere in Group H, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay face off on Tuesday at 1am [EAT].
How to watch
All 104 matches will be live on DStv on four dedicated FIFA World Cup Channels in multiple languages. The Channels are FIFA World Cup Central (Channel 222), FIFA World Cup Extra (Channel 223), FIFA World Cup Pass (Channel 225), and FIFA World Cup Swahili (Channel 224).
