The expanded sees a compete to , however whereas there are many new faces and potential fairytales in North America this summer season, one factor stays the identical – the same old suspects are favourites as soon as once more.
Whereas 2018 winners and 2022 runners-up France will bid to make a 3rd World Cup closing in a row this summer season, it’s European champions who head into the match as favourites, with Luis de la Fuente’s facet hoping to construct on the success of Germany two years in the past.
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La Roja shocked loads of followers and pundits in an excellent run to the ultimate at Euro 2024, and their World Cup marketing campaign ought to present a equally comfy route by to the knockout rounds.
Two-time winners will present a reasonably stern take a look at for Spain early on and will likely be assured of qualifying in second as they search for one other shock run to the latter phases, whereas third place is up for grabs – on paper anyway – between 61st ranked and 69th ranked , who’re one of many feel-good tales of the summer season after qualifying for a primary World Cup of their historical past.
Group H fixtures
(all instances BST)
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15 June, 5pm: Spain v Cape Verde – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
15 June, 11pm: Saudi Arabia v Uruguay – Onerous Rock Stadium, Miami
21 June, 5pm: Spain v Saudi Arabia – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
21 June, 11pm: Uruguay v Cape Verde – Onerous Rock Stadium, Miami
27 June, 1am: Uruguay v Spain – Estadio Akron, Zapopan (Mexico)
27 June, 1am: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia – NRG Stadium, Houston
Spain
Luis de la Fuente’s facet start the match as favourites after a massively profitable previous couple of years that began with a victorious Euro 2024 marketing campaign two summers in the past. La Roja have been in high quality type since beating England in Berlin, shedding simply as soon as – within the 2025 Nations League closing, on penalties to Portugal.
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Spain haven’t come near profitable soccer’s largest prize since their famed marketing campaign of 2010, however there’s a feeling at residence that this squad is the perfect geared up to take action for the reason that days of Iniesta, Xavi and co. After exiting the match on the spherical of 16 stage to Morocco in Qatar, a semi-final berth could be the minimal expectation this time spherical, however in personal there could be questions requested if this facet doesn’t go all the way in which.
Lots of the similar names from the 2024 squad will likely be current in North America this summer season. De la Fuente has already made a daring transfer in deciding on a squad devoid of any gamers, with each and left at residence as La Roja go for a mix of expertise and youthful verve. will as soon as once more be the point of interest of the squad, supported by the likes of , Pedri and , who scored the winner in Berlin two years in the past.
There are some questions over defensive choices and the match of a number of the attackers within the squad, but when de la Fuente can efficiently adapt the sport plan utilized in 2024, Spain could properly finish this summer season with one other star over the well-known crest.
Lamine Yamal may miss a few of Spain’s early matches as a result of a hamstring difficulty picked up in April (AFP/Getty)
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (), (), ().
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Defenders: (), (Atletico Madrid), (Tottenham), (Athletic Bilbao), (Barcelona), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), (Chelsea), ().
Midfielders: Rodri (), (Arsenal), (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Gavi (Barcelona), Fabian Ruiz (), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid).
Forwards: (), Victor Munoz (Osasuna), Mikel Oyarzabal (), (Barcelona), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), (Barcelona), (Athletic Bilbao), ().
Star participant – Lamine Yamal, Barcelona: It’s troublesome to choose a star man in a group that may embrace the likes of Pedri and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, however teenage sensation Lamine Yamal stands out this summer season as Spain’s essential man. The 18-year-old was the breakout star of the match as Spain received Euro 2024 and he has solely improved since two summers in the past. He comes into his first World Cup off the again of one other title-winning season at Barcelona, having scored 16 targets and registered 12 assists in simply 28 video games in La Liga. Yamal is prone to lacking the primary two group video games for La Roja after selecting up a hamstring harm late into the season, however anticipate him to hit the bottom working one he returns as he appears so as to add the largest trophy of all to an already spectacular cupboard.
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Breakout expertise – Marc Pubill, Atletico Madrid: Such is the expertise within the Spain squad that the majority of its members are already family names, although defender Marc Pubill could possibly be the participant who has probably the most to achieve from his call-up this summer season. The 22-year-old has already impressed at instances for Atletico Madrid this season – with supervisor Diego Simeone saying he’s “rising at an infinite charge” – and whereas he’s not been in a position to nail down a beginning spot on the membership, his versatility on the again means he may characteristic for La Roja this summer season in what could possibly be the primary main steps of a profitable worldwide profession.
Fifa rating: 2.
Odds to win the World Cup: 5/1, newest odds by way of .
Uruguay
La Celeste are famed as one of many World Cup’s largest over-achievers, having received the competitors in 1930 and 1950, and the 2026 crop of gamers will likely be hoping to emulate the likes of and as they give the impression of being to advance to the latter rounds.
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Supervisor Marcelo Bielsa is alleged to be stepping down after the match, with the previous Leeds boss main the facet right into a second main match after ending a decent third on the 2024 Copa America.
And whereas Bielsa’s squad doesn’t possess the identical degree of expertise because the earlier golden era, that Copa run and the efficiency towards England in March confirmed that they’re able to digging in and getting outcomes towards ‘higher’ sides.
With loads of defensive metal, a little bit of midfield nous – together with and – and potential match-winners within the type of gamers comparable to and , Uruguay could possibly be among the many darkish horses this summer season. Having did not get out of the group in 2022, a spot within the quarter-finals this time round would probably be seen as a profitable marketing campaign – and a repeat of 2010 could be seen as a small miracle.
Fede Valverde will likely be key to Uruguay’s hopes because the South People look to punch above their weight as soon as extra (Getty)
Squad:
Goalkeepers: (Internacional), (Galatasaray), (Junior FC)
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Defenders: (Flamengo), (Barcelona), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), (Wolves), Sebastian Caceres (Membership America), Mathias Olivera (Napoli), Joaquin Piquerez (Palmeiras), Matias Vina (Flamengo)
Midfielders: (), (Palmeiras), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), Federico Valverde (Actual Madrid), Agustin Canobbio (Fluminense), (Atletico San Luis), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo), Nicolas de la Cruz (Flamengo), (Braga), (Panathinaikos), Maximiliano Araujo (Sporting), Brian Rodriguez (Membership America)
Forwards: (Membership America), Federico Vinas (), Darwin Nunez (Al Hilal)
Star participant: : Actual Madrid captain Fede Valverde is Uruguay’s talisman, and he’ll lead the Celeste as they give the impression of being to make one other shock run to the latter phases of the World Cup. Valverde is coming off the again of a disappointing season at membership degree however his undoubted expertise and flexibility imply he stays one of the vital helpful gamers in world soccer. He may wish to enhance his report of objective contributions – having scored simply 9 instances this season at membership degree – however as proven along with his objective towards England and a hat-trick towards Manchester Metropolis, the 27-year-old stays a person for the massive event. With the assistance of Nunez and Gimenez, can Valverde spur his nation into one other shock efficiency?
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Breakout expertise: Maxi Araujo: The battle to be Uruguay’s breakout star this summer season could be between ‘rival’ wingers in Membership America’s Brian Rodríguez and Sporting’s Maxi Araujo. The previous scored 13 targets in 34 video games for the Mexican membership and has grow to be recognized for his tempo, however 26-year-old Araujo has been a key man for Sporting for a few seasons now. He’s hardly a no one after profitable a Primeira Liga title final season – and placing in an excellent efficiency in Sporting’s 4-1 win over Man Metropolis within the Champions League – however this could possibly be the match the place extra followers start to note him.
Fifa rating: 17.
Odds to win the World Cup: 100/1.
Saudi Arabia
2026 marks a seventh World Cup finals for , although the 2034 hosts have lots to do in the event that they wish to equal their best-ever efficiency.
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Saudi Arabia bought to the spherical of 16 the final time the World Cup was held within the USA in 1994, although their earlier six tournaments have all ended on the group stage. The truth that there will likely be some third-placed groups qualifying on this expanded match offers the facet hope of constructing it out of Group H, although realistically a group-stage exit nonetheless feels the almost certainly final result.
Nonetheless, it is a group that may profit from the expertise of qualifying for the final two World Cups, whereas new supervisor Herve Renard brings nice worldwide experience having received Afcon with Zambia and the Ivory Coast beforehand.
A 1-0 loss to Jordan within the semi-finals of the Arab Cup on the finish of final yr demonstrated the constraints of this Saudi facet although, and it stays to be seen if they will construct on their earlier match expertise – in any case, a spot within the spherical of 32 could be seen as an enormous success.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: (Al Ula) (Al Nassr), Ahmed Al Kassar (Al Qadsiah), Abdulqudus Attiah (Al Taawoun)
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Defenders: (Al Nassr), (Al Hilal), Jehad Thikri (Al Qadsiah), (Al Hilal), Hassan Kadesh (Al Ittihad), (), Mohammed Abu Al Shamat (Al Qadsiah), (Al Ahli), (Al Hilal), Nawaf Boushal (Al Nassr), Zakaria Hawsawi (Al Ahli).
Midfielders: Mohammed Kanno (Al Hilal), (Al Nassr), Ziyad Al Johani (Al Ahli), (Al Hilal), Musab Al Juwayr (Al Qadsiah), Alaa Al Hajji (NEOM SC), Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal), (Al Ettifaq), (Al Nassr), Sultan Mandash (Al Hilal), Saleh Abu Al Shamat (Al Ahli).
Forwards: Feras (Al Ahli), Abdullah Al Salem (Al Qadsiah), (Al Ittihad), (Al Nassr).
Star participant: Salem Al-Dawsari: Midfielder Al-Dawsari had maybe the perfect second of his profession to date when he scored the objective that beat Argentina in Qatar in 2022, and in 2026 the 34-year-old as soon as once more leads his group at a World Cup, hoping to go one higher than final time in making it out of the group. He scored eight targets in simply 26 video games from left wing at membership degree this season, and he’ll want to duplicate that type of type if Herve Renard’s facet are to make the spherical of 32.
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Breakout expertise – Saud Abdulhamid: Lens defender Abdulhamid – who’s on mortgage on the membership from Roma – is the one participant within the squad who performs his membership soccer exterior of Saudi Arabia, and he was a part of the squad that simply received the French Cup to safe the primary trophy in Lens’ historical past. It was additionally an immensely profitable season within the league as they completed second in Ligue 1, simply six factors behind PSG. Whereas Abdulhamid typically featured for Lens at proper wing-back, he has been used as a standard right-back in defence at worldwide degree too. At 26 years previous, this could possibly be the stage the place he takes the following step in his profession forward of probably taking part in within the Champions League subsequent season.
Fifa rating: 61.
Odds to win the World Cup: 1000/1.
Cape Verde
2026 marks a primary look at a World Cup for Cape Verde, with supervisor – and former participant – Bubista main his nation to the world’s largest match with a qualifying marketing campaign that produced seven wins from 10 video games towards the likes of Cameroon and Angola.
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On the pitch they are going to be led by former Lille and ahead , with a supporting forged together with Omonoia’s , Benfica’s and the qualification marketing campaign’s prime scorer in .
The minnows head into the match with nothing to show however the whole lot to achieve, with their finest earlier match performances coming as they reached the quarter-finals of Afcon in 2013 and 2023.
The celebrations seen when Cape Verde secured qualification present that hopes aren’t precisely excessive for his or her efficiency in North America this summer season, and that won’t have modified once they had been drawn in a gaggle towards Spain and Uruguay. Nevertheless, with the expanded match leaving room for third-placed sides to qualify, there can all the time be desires of constructing it to the spherical of 32 on the first time of asking.
Daylon Livramento was Cape Verde’s prime scorer in qualifying and can probably lead the road in North Amercia (Getty)
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Vozinha (Chaves), Marcio Rosa (Montana), (San Diego).
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Defenders: Stopira (Torreense), Roberto Lopes (Shamrock Rovers), Joao Paulo (FCSB), Diney (Al Bataeh), (Villarreal), (), (Trabzonspor), Sidny Lopes Cabral (Benfica), (SJK).
Midfielders: (PEC Zwolle), (Krasnodar), (Ludogorets), Telmo Arcanjo (Vitoria Guimaraes), (Puskas Akademia), Yannick Semedo (Farense).
Forwards: Ryan Mendes (Igdir), (Apollon Limassol), Willy Semedo (Omonia), (Estrela Amadora), (Akron Tolyatti), Dailon Livramento (Casa Pia), Helio Varela (Maccabi Tel Aviv), (Istanbul Basaksehir).
Star participant – Dailon Livramento: Veteran midfielder Ryan Mendes stands out as the anchor of the group however ahead Dailon Livramento was the important thing man in qualification, scoring 5 instances in a historic marketing campaign. The 25-year-old failed to search out the online for his new facet Casa Pia since becoming a member of in September, although he discovered alternatives exhausting to come back by. Conversely, he scored and assisted within the 4-2 loss to Chile in March, displaying that he stays a focus of the group at worldwide degree.
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Breakout expertise – Sidny Lopes Cabral: Versatile Benfica defender Sidny Lopes Cabral appears sure to be Cape Verde’s breakout star this summer season, helped partially by his €6m transfer to Benfica in January. Jose Mourinho is alleged to have personally authorized the signing of the 23-year-old, who impressed for Portuguese facet Estrela Amadora within the first half of the season. Lopes Cabral can play at each full-back and on the wing, although he could also be used as a extra attacking possibility at instances this summer season – one thing he can do to nice have an effect on, as proven with a hat-trick towards Casa Pia in November and a objective and help towards Chile in March.
Fifa rating: 69.
Odds to win the World Cup: 2000/1.
Group H prediction
Spain ought to face little opposition of their bid to complete first in Group H, although their match towards Uruguay must be an attention-grabbing one (and maybe a superb early yardstick for a way the favourites are performing early on). La Celeste ought to have greater than sufficient to qualify in second, whereas Saudi Arabia will hope to sneak into the final 32 by way of a third-placed end. It appears like it is going to be troublesome for Cape Verde to earn any factors of their maiden World Cup journey, however – as Saudi Arabia proved towards Argentina in 2022 – something is feasible with sufficient morale and perception.