European champions Spain are the pre-World Cup 2026 favourites, and La Roja get their campaign underway next Monday evening vs first-time participants Cape Verde.
Luis de la Fuente’s side are part of Group H, alongside Saudi Arabia and South American heavyweights Uruguay.
Tougher tests lie in wait for Spain, though Cape Verde – the second-smallest nation ever to reach this stage – are here on merit after qualifying at the expense of continental giants Cameroon. Some achievement, that.
A fascinating game at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium is fast approaching, and here is our full preview with the latest World Cup odds and some handy online betting tips.
And during the tournament, make sure to regularly check our new-look Bet Boosts page. Each day, we will increase the price of selected World Cup markets, adding another layer of excitement to the NetBet online experience!
Where can I watch Spain vs Cape Verde in the UK?
Spain vs Cape Verde will be broadcast live on ITV1, with kick-off scheduled for 6pm UK time.
Spain vs Cape Verde Preview
Recent results
Spain lost on penalties to Portugal in last summer’s Nations League final, but the Euro 2024 winners are unbeaten since that defeat in Munich. La Roja won five of their six qualifiers, including huge away victories vs Turkey (0-6) and Georgia (0-4). After beating Serbia 3-0 as part of their World Cup warm ups, Spain drew with both Egypt (0-0) and Iraq (1-1), before returning to winning ways in their final friendly vs Peru (3-1).
Cape Verde failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which makes their place at this tournament all the more remarkable. The Blue Sharks also suffered an early setback in their CAF group, losing 4-1 to Cameroon, but then beat the World Cup regulars 1-0 in the reverse fixture. A 3-0 home win over Eswatini secured their spot in World Cup Group H, and Bubista’s side have performed very well in their recent warm-up matches. A 3-0 win over Serbia was followed by another 3-0 success vs Bermuda, the former result certainly one that catches the eye.
Head-to-head record
This is the first meeting between Spain and Cape Verde in any competition.
Team news
Amazingly, there is not a single Real Madrid player in Spain’s squad, though it is still star-studded in the extreme. Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Rodri, Mikel Oyarzabal and Nico Williams are just some of the standout names, though Yamal’s minutes could be restricted in the group stage as he recovers from a hamstring injury. However, the biggest talking point is in goal, where Unai Simon is expected to retain the No1 spot despite the form of Arsenal hero David Raya and Barcelona’s Joan Garcia. Interesting.
Cape Verde’s squad does not feature any household names, but Villarreal’s Logan Costa and Benfica’s Sidny Lopes Cabral – both defenders – are part of the roster. Trabzonspor right-back Wager Pina is a player to watch out for, he tallied seven assists in 31 Super Lig appearances during the 2025-26 season. Centre forward Dalion Livramento is also one to keep an eye on after netting four priceless goals in the team’s successful CAF qualification campaign.
Spain vs Cape Verde Odds
*All odds are subject to change
Spain are massive favourites to win this contest at a short price of 1.07. A victory for Cape Verde is at long odds of 25.00, while the draw is 10.00.
Spain vs Cape Verde Betting Tips
Spain total goals – Over 2.5 @ 1.50
While Cape Verde are no pushovers, this match has all the makings of a fairly easy win for a world-class Spain team. The defending European champions are favourites for a reason, and you feel as if La Roja will be eager to make a big statement here. Spain scored over 2.5 goals in four of their six World Cup qualifiers, and if you are feeling braver with your pick, the odds are 2.28 for over 3.5 goals – an outcome which occurred in three of those four games.
Anytime goalscorer – Mikel Oyarzabal @ 1.53
Oyarzabal scored in the 3-1 victory over Peru, extending his impressive Spain record to 25 goals in 53 appearances. The Real Sociedad star has 13 goals in his last 13 international outings, a run of form which makes this pick – against the team ranked 67th by FIFA – a complete no-brainer.
To assist a goal – Lamine Yamal @ 2.50
In his first 25 appearances for Spain, Yamal tallied 12 assists – four of them recorded at Euro 2024. The Barcelona starlet just loves creating on the biggest stage, evidenced by 11 assists from 28 La Liga appearances in 2025-26. The likes of Oyarzabal and Ferran Torres should thrive off of his service, particularly against a ‘weaker’ opponent in Cape Verde – even if his minutes are managed by De la Fuente!
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