95' End of the match

Cape Verde earns its first point in the World Cup, debuting with a commendable draw against one of the favorites to win the tournament.

92' Yellow card for Pedri

After a foul against Cape Verde, the Spanish midfielder was sanctioned.

90' Corner and header from Cape Verde

Header and a good save by the goalkeeper positioned correctly

89' Counterattack and shot by Cape Verde

They got close and almost scored against Spain.

86' Substitution in Spain

Nico Williams comes on, Rodri goes off.

82' Great stop by Vozinha

Cucurella made a great header against Cape Verde but Vozinha stopped it on its tracks

81' Changes in Spain

Dani Olmos comes on for Ferran Torres

75' Substitution in Cape Verde

João Paulo enters, Cabral out

71' Changes in Spain

After the lack of goals and imbalance, Lamine Yamal comes in for Gavi and Mikel Merino for Fabián Ruiz.

68' Hydration break

Despite the attempts by the Spanish team, everything remains tied at zero.

60' Substitutions in Cape Verde

L. Duarte, Cabral, and Livramento out, D. in. Duarte, da Costa, and Semedo

55' Header by Fabián

A header shot against the floor that Vozinha saved

52' Shot by Oyarzabal

He tried to cross the ball and almost scored a goal in the Cape Verdean net.

45' ST: The second half begins.

The referee starts the second half of this match between Spain and Cape Verde.

48' End of the first half

Between Vozinha's saves and Spain's lack of precision, the match is 0-0.

44' Ferran's shot and a great save by Vozinha

Good attack that consolidates Vozinha as one of the figures of the match.

41' Poorly executed counterattack by Cape Verde

The forward took advantage of a good counterattack against a Spain that took too long to drop back, however, the goalkeeper recovered the ball after a complication from the Cape Verde winger.

38' Great team play and crossbar

Header by Oyarzabal and a subsequent crossbar and save by Vozinha, both remain tied

35' Pedri's shot and a great save by the Cape Verde goalkeeper

Although the play was ruled offside, it was a great save by Vozinha.

28' Cucurella attempts inside the box

The Spanish fullback took a shot inside the box, but it went over the crossbar.

26' Cape Verde approaches the Spanish area

The debutant team is getting closer and closer and trying to create opportunities.

23' Hydration break

Everything remains 0-0, despite Spanish advances; everything remains equal.

19' España presiona, Cabo Verde aguanta

Luis de la Fuente's team puts pressure on the African side, but they manage to defend themselves both due to the inaccuracy and the marking of the Cape Verde players.

1' Start of the match

Both teams make their official debut in this World Cup after the initial whistle.

🏟️ When and Where

Spain will begin its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Cape Verde in a Group H clash. La Roja will look to assert its status as one of the tournament favorites from the opening match, while the African side will aim to pull off an upset and earn valuable points in its World Cup debut.

• Match: Spain vs Cape Verde
• FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group H
• Kickoff Time: 12:00 PM ET
• Venue: Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta

📺 How and Where to Watch Spain vs Cape Verde

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🇪🇸 Spain's Preview

Spain arrives at the World Cup as one of the leading contenders for the title. Managed by Luis de la Fuente, the squad retains much of the core that won UEFA Euro 2024 and enters the tournament full of confidence after an extended unbeaten run. The team combines experience and youth with stars such as Rodri, Pedri, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Fabián Ruiz, making it one of the most complete squads in the competition.

Luis de la Fuente has confirmed that all players in the squad are available for the opener against Cape Verde, although he may carefully manage the minutes of certain players to avoid unnecessary risks.

🇨🇻 Cape Verde's Preview

Cape Verde enters this match at the most important moment in its football history. The Blue Sharks are competing in their first-ever FIFA World Cup after an impressive qualification campaign in which they proved to be a competitive, organized, and resilient side. Under head coach Bubista, the team has built its success on a solid tactical structure, defensive discipline, and strong physical play.

While they may not possess the individual talent of Europe's biggest football powers, Cape Verde arrives with enthusiasm and no pressure. The African side has produced encouraging results in recent matches and will rely on experienced international players as they look to pull off one of the tournament's biggest surprises.

⭐ Players to Watch

🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal (Spain)

At just 18 years old, Lamine Yamal is one of the players who will attract the most attention at the tournament. The FC Barcelona winger arrives at the World Cup after establishing himself as one of the brightest stars in European football. Yamal enters his first World Cup with the responsibility of leading Spain's attack. His ability to beat defenders in one-on-one situations and his knack for producing goals and assists make him a player capable of changing any game, which is why many consider him a leading candidate to become one of the breakout stars of the tournament.

🇨🇻 Ryan Mendes (Cape Verde)

Ryan Mendes is the captain and primary attacking leader of the Cape Verde national team. In the first World Cup appearance in the country's history, much of the team's hopes will rest on his ability to create danger in the final third and capitalize on any opportunities that arise against a powerhouse like Spain.

🎯 Final Analysis

Although Spain enters the match as one of the favorites not only to win this game but also to challenge for the World Cup title, Cape Verde arrives eager to make history in its first-ever appearance on football's biggest stage. The difference in experience, squad depth, and individual quality clearly favors La Roja, which boasts several of the world's top players.

However, the African side has shown that it is a competitive, disciplined team capable of causing problems for any opponent. If Spain can impose its style of play and maximize the talents of players such as Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Nico Williams, it should take an important first step in Group H. For Cape Verde, the challenge will be to withstand the early pressure and seize any opportunity to produce one of the biggest upsets of the opening round.

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