Spain vs Cape Verde prediction, tips and odds | World Cup 2026

Spain open their 2026 World Cup campaign on Monday evening when they face Cape Verde at Atlanta Stadium.

The European champions are ranked second in the world by FIFA, and Luis de la Fuente's side have lost just twice in 42 games since his appointment – a record that explains why they are one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

Cape Verde are making their first ever appearance at a World Cup finals, ranked 67th by FIFA, entering the tournament on the back of three consecutive wins.

Keeping Spain at bay will require a near-perfect defensive performance, but Bubista's side arrive in good form.

Spain vs Cape Verde form and preview

Spain are unbeaten in their last five matches, with a 3-0 victory over Serbia in March and the 3-1 win over Peru framing three draws and revealing the attacking fluency that makes De la Fuente's side so difficult to contain at full throttle.

Rodri, Spain's captain who won the Ballon d'Or in 2024, is the axis around which the team function – controlling tempo from deep, reducing their exposure in transition while giving Pedri and Fabian Ruiz the platform to push forward.

The midfield trio have been Spain's most consistent unit under De la Fuente, and their ability to press high and recover the ball quickly will create immediate problems for Cape Verde's build-up play.

Mikel Oyarzabal leads the attack having scored in six consecutive internationals, a run that has cemented his place as the central striker in the squad.

Ferran Torres, who has 24 goals in 57 appearances for Spain, offers a clinical alternative on the right flank, and the depth across attacking positions allows De la Fuente to rotate without a meaningful drop in quality.

The fitness of three wide players adds an element of uncertainty – Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Victor Munoz all missed the Peru warm-up fixture but returned to full training during the week.

Cape Verde's appearance at this World Cup is genuinely historic – a nation of just over half a million people, they topped their African qualifying group, beating Cameroon, whose own World Cup history stretches back to the 1982 tournament, along with Angola and Eswatini.

The decisive goal in the qualifying campaign was scored by Dailon Livramento, the Casa Pia forward who has established himself as the focal point of the attack.

Ryan Mendes remains the heartbeat of this Cape Verde side – the 36-year-old captain with 98 caps is both the record appearance holder and all-time top scorer in his country's history.

Back-to-back 3-0 victories over Serbia and Bermuda, both with clean sheets, showed that the defensive unit is well organised when given the opportunity to sit deep and defend in numbers.

Roberto Lopes, widely known as Pico, marshals the central defence with considerable experience – the Shamrock Rovers defender has 45 caps and brings composure under pressure.

However, Chile's 4-2 win in March revealed how quickly Cape Verde's defensive shape can break down against a side that presses aggressively and moves the ball at pace – and Spain's intensity is significantly higher, with wide players operating at a level above almost anyone Cape Verde will have prepared for.

Bubista is expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, with Kevin Pina and Yannick Semedo in the double pivot, but their discipline in holding the defensive block will be critical – any gap between midfield and defence is likely to be exploited by Pedri and Fabian Ruiz.

That 65-place difference means Cape Verde will need to compete with exceptional discipline over long periods to keep the scoreline respectable.

Team news: Spain vs Cape Verde

Spain

Spain have no confirmed absentees, with Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Victor Munoz – all of whom missed the Peru warm-up fixture – having returned to full training at the squad's Chattanooga base during the week.

De la Fuente confirmed all three are expected to be available for the opener, though their minutes may be managed carefully given how recently they returned.

The rest of the squad is settled, with Unai Simon in goal behind a back four of Cucurella, Laporte, Cubarsi and Porro, while Rodri, Pedri and Fabian Ruiz occupy the midfield with Oyarzabal as the central striker.

Alex Baena, who has performed well in the warm-up fixtures from the left, is in contention to start ahead of Williams depending on fitness assessments ahead of kick-off.

Pau Cubarsi, at 19 the youngest centre-back in the squad, partners Laporte, who brings 46 caps of experience to the central defensive partnership.

Cape Verde

Bubista has a fully fit 26-man squad at his disposal.

Vozinha, the 40-year-old veteran goalkeeper with 86 international caps, starts in goal – a figure of continuity and experience for a side making their debut on the biggest stage.

Logan Costa's inclusion in the back four would be notable having returned from an ACL injury earlier this year – the Villarreal defender only resumed playing in May, but his quality on the ball makes him an important part of Bubista's plans when Cape Verde look to build from the back.

Captain Ryan Mendes is set to play in the attacking three behind the striker, carrying the hopes of a nation watching from thousands of miles away.

In midfield, Jamiro Monteiro takes the number ten role behind Livramento, while Steven Moreira, who plays his club football for Columbus Crew in MLS, lines up at right-back with a working knowledge of the North American conditions.

Spain vs Cape Verde predicted XIs

Spain (4-3-3): Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Fabian Ruiz, Rodri, Pedri; Ferran Torres, Mikel Oyarzabal, Alex Baena

Cape Verde (4-2-3-1): Vozinha; Steven Moreira, Roberto Lopes, Logan Costa, Joao Paulo; Kevin Pina, Yannick Semedo; Ryan Mendes, Jamiro Monteiro, Jovane Cabral; Dailon Livramento

Head-to-head: Spain vs Cape Verde

Monday's group opener will be the first ever meeting between Spain and Cape Verde in any competition, with La Roja sitting 65 places above Cape Verde in the FIFA rankings.

That being said, Cape Verde's record against European opposition has been commendable of late.

Their 3-0 win over Serbia in May was a dominant display, while the 1-1 draw with Finland – decided on penalties – demonstrated defensive resilience.

Beyond that, a 4-2 loss to Chile – a South American side ranked outside the world's top 50 – provides a cautionary contrast.

Our Spain vs Cape Verde prediction and tips