World Cup 2026 Group H
GROUP H
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Spain | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| Cape Verde | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Uruguay | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Saudi Arabia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
Andy Greeves
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Spain
Spain first featured at a World Cup finals in 1934 when they reached the quarter-finals of the then-16 team tournament. For decades, La Roja's performances at the World Cup were somewhat underwhelming. In between failed qualification attempts in 1954 and 1958 and again for the 1970 and 1974 finals, Spain were eliminated at the group stage of both the 1962 and 1966 tournaments. They suffered the same fate in Argentina in 1978 while they were knocked out at the second group stage when they hosted the tournament in 1982.
Spain were sent packing from the 1986, 1994 and 2002 World Cups at the quarter-final stage, while they reached the round of 16 in 1990 and 2006 and were eliminated at the group stage in 1998.
It was Vicente del Bosque's class of 2010 that finally helped Spain ditch their World Cup underachievers tag, as they triumphed at the tournament in South Africa. After topping Group H, La Roja went on to win against Portugal, Paraguay and Spain in the knockout phase before beating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final.
Spain will be making their 17th World Cup finals appearance at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico and be looking to improve on their three most recent World Cup displays, when they were eliminated at the group stage in 2014 and were knocked out at the round of 16 in 2018 and 2022.
Head coach Luis de la Fuente has a wealth of talent to choose from, with the spine of his starting XI likely to included Barcelona trio Pau Cubarsí, Pedri and Lamine Yamal. Spain's class of 2010 arguably pioneered the popularity of the 4-2-3-1 formation at international level when they won the World Cup in South Africa. La Roja will likely line-up in the same formation in North America in 2026.
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Spain Kit 1 |
Spain Kit 2 |
Spain vs Cape Verde - June 15; Atlanta
Spain vs Saudi Arabia - June 21; Atlanta
Uruguay vs Spain - June 26; Zapopan
Coach
Coach: Luis de la Fuente
Record
Best World Cup: Winners in 2010.
Formation
4-2-3-1
One to watch: Lamine Yamal.
Aged 18, Lamine Yamal has already scored six goals in 25 appearances for Spain. He played a starring role in La Roja's triumph at UEFA Euro 2024, in which he was named Young Player of the Tournament while his strike against France in their semi-final win was voted Goal of the Tournament. He was runner-up for the 2025 Ballon d'Or on the back of a calendar year which saw him win La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España with Barça.
Lamine Yamal is the youngest player ever to play a senior international for Spain, having made his first international appearance against Georgia on 8 September 2023 aged just 16 years and 57 days. He was even younger when he made his Barcelona baptism against Real Betis on 29 April, 2023, aged just 15 years, nine months, and 16 days old at the time.
Reigning European champions Spain will surely fancy their chances of topping Group H and also progressing far in this World Cup.
How they qualified
Spain were unbeaten in qualifying for this World Cup, winning five and drawing one of their UEFA qualifying Group E fixtures. They sealed their place at the tournament with a 2-2 draw with Türkiye at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville on 18 November 2025.
On the sidelines
Former Spain international left-back Luis de la Fuente was previously La Roja head coach at under-19, under-21 and under-23 level. He guided his various teams to glory at the under-19s to victory at the 2015 UEFA European Under-19 Championship and the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship as well as winning silver medal at the delayed 2020 Olympic Games.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan Garcia (Barcelona)
Defenders: Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Gavi (Barcelona), Fabian Ruiz (Paris St-Germain), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid)
Strikers: Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Victor Munoz (Osasuna), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo)
Cape Verde
Tournament debutants Cape Verde are the third smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup by population after Iceland and Curaçao. An archipelago of 10 volcanic islands off the western coast of Africa, Cape Verde has a population of around 500,000.
The 'Blue Sharks' played their first international back in April 1978, when they were beaten 1-0 by Guinea. After many decades in the footballing wilderness, Cape Verde have enjoyed recent successes that have included qualification for four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in 2013, 2015, 2021 and 2023. Other than in 2015, the Blue Sharks progressed to the knockout phase of that competition and reached the quarter-finals in 2013 and 2023. They also won the 2024 Saudi Arabia A group of the FIFA Series in 2024.
Cape Verde's rise as a football nation this century has been reflected in their FIFA World Ranking. As low as 182 in April 2000, the Blue Sharks peaked at 27 in February 2014 while they are 69 at the time of writing.
Usually set-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Cape Verde have a squad of players who ply their trade in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. Look out for right-back/winger Sidny Lopes Cabral, who completed a move from Estrela da Amadora to Portuguese giants Benfica earlier this year while 18-year-old forward Fabio Domingos is a highly rated member of Paris Saint-Germain's academy.
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Cape Verde Kit 1 |
Cape Verde Kit 2 |
Spain vs Cape Verde - June 15; Atlanta
Uruguay vs Cape Verde - June 21; Miami
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia - June 26; Houston
Coach
Bubista
Record
Debutants in 2026.
Formation
4-2-3-1
One to watch: Ryan Mendes
Veteran captain Ryan Mendes made his Cape Verde debut back in 2010 and has since amassed over 90 senior international caps. The Mindelo-born player is the Blue Shark's all-time record goalscorer, having netted 22 times to date.
Formerly of Le Havre, Lille, Nottingham Forest (loan), Kayserispor, Sharjah, Al Nasr, Fatih Karagümrük and Kocaelispor, the 36-year-old signed for current club Iğdır back in 2025.
It is hard to see beyond Spain and Uruguay finishing Group H's top two. Cape Verde's main aim will be to pick up at least a point on their World Cup debut.
How they qualified
Winner of Africa Group C one point clear of Nigeria and Benin.
On the sidelines
Cape Verde topped the six-team CAF qualifying Group D in order to take their place at this summer's World Cup. The Blue Sharks won seven, drew two and lost just of their 10 qualifying matches. Their standout result in qualifying was a 1-0 triumph over Cameroon on 9 September 2025.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Vozinha (Chaves), Marcio Rosa (Montana), CJ dos Santos (San Diego)
Defenders: Stopira (Torreense), Roberto Lopes (Shamrock Rovers), Joao Paulo (FCSB), Diney (Al Bataeh), Logan Costa (Villarreal), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Wagner Pina (Trabzonspor), Sidny Lopes Cabral (Benfica), Kelvin Pires (SJK)
Midfielders: Jamiro Monteiro (PEC Zwolle), Kevin Pina (Krasnodar), Deroy Duarte (Ludogorets), Telmo Arcanjo (Vitoria Guimaraes), Laros Duarte (Puskas Akademia), Yannick Semedo (Farense)
Strikers: Ryan Mendes (Igdir), Garry Rodrigues (Apollon Limassol), Willy Semedo (Omonia), Jovane Cabral (Estrela Amadora), Gilson Tavares (Akron Tolyatti), Dailon Livramento (Casa Pia), Helio Varela (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Nuno da Costa (Istanbul Basaksehir)
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia caused one of the World Cup's biggest upsets back on 22 November 2022, when they beat eventual champions Argentina at the Lusail Stadium. Alas, subsequent Group C defeats to Poland and Mexico saw the 'The Green Falcons' (or 'The Green One') - coached by Hervé Renard in his first spell - eliminated at the group stage.
Saudi Arabia made their World Cup debut back in 1994. Victories over Morocco (2-1) and Belgium (1-0) saw them finish as runners-up in Group F to the Netherlands, thus qualifying for the round of 16. There they were defeated by eventual semi-finalists Sweden in Dallas on 3 July 1994. From 1994 up to and including 2006, the Green Falcons made it to all four World Cup finals but were unable to progress beyond the group stage in France in 1998, Japan and South Korea in 2002 and in Germany in 2006.
After a two-tournament absence, Saudi Arabia returned to the Word Cup finals in 2018. A 5-0 defeat to hosts Russia in the opening match and a 1-0 loss to one of this year's group rivals, Uruguay, saw Saudi eliminated. They did at least beat Egypt 2-1 in their final Group A match, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Salem Al-Dawsari.
In his second spell as Saudi Arabia coach, Hervé Renard oversaw the Saudi Arabia's successful qualification campaign for this World Cup. In April this year, he was sacked after a run of poor results, including a 4-0 loss to Egypt and a 2-1 defeat to Serbia, combined with an underwhelming showing at the FIFA Arab Cup. He was replaced by former Greece international midfielder Giorgios Donis. What affect this managerial switch will have on the national team of Saudi Arabia remains to be seen.
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Saudi Arabia Kit 1 |
Saudi Arabia Kit 2 |
Saudi Arabia v Uruguay - June 15; Miami
Spain vs Saudi Arabia - June 21; Atlanta
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia - June 26; Houston
Coach
Georgios Donis
Record
Best World Cup: Round of 16 in 1994.
Formation
4-2-3-1
One to watch: Salem Al-Dawsari
Cementing his place in Saudi football folklore with the aforementioned winning goal against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, Salem Al-Dawsari will again lead the line for the Green Falcons at this summer's tournament.
The Jeddah-born forward, who will celebrate his 35th birthday on 19 August, made his Saudia Arabia debut back in 2012 and has since scored 26 goals in 107 international appearances. In addition to featuring at two previous World Cups and three AFC Asian Cups, the Al Hilal stalwart was also part of the Saudi squad for the delayed 2020 Olympic Games.
With Giorgos Donis having had such a short amount of time to work with his players ahead of this World Cup, progress beyond the group stage seems unlikely for Saudi Arabia.
How they qualified
Saudi Arabia's journey to this summer's World Cup began in the second phase of AFC qualifying. They finished second in the four-team Group B table to take their place in third round. After 10 matches, Saudi Arabia finished third in AFC qualifying third round Group C. They grabbed one of the two final remaining automatic qualification places by topping the qualifying fourth Group B table, while Qatar did same in Group A. Iraq progressed to the intercontinental play-offs.
On the sidelines
Former Al-Hilal goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea is Saudi Arabia's most capped player, having made 173 international appearances between 1993 and 2006.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Mohammed Al Owais (Al Ula), Nawaf Al Aqidi (Al Nassr), Ahmed Al Kassar (Al Qadsiah)
Defenders: Abdulelah Al Amri (Al Nassr), Hassan Tambakti (Al Hilal), Jehad Thikri (Al Qadsiah), Ali Lajami (Al Hilal), Hassan Kadesh (Al Ittihad), Saud Abdulhamid (Lens, on loan from Roma), Mohammed Abu Al Shamat (Al Qadsiah), Ali Majrashi (Al Ahli), Moteb Al Harbi (Al Hilal), Nawaf Boushal (Al Nassr), Sultan Al-Ghannam (Al Nassr)
Midfielders: Mohammed Kanno (Al Hilal), Abdullah Al Khaibari (Al Nassr), Ziyad Al Johani (Al Ahli), Nasser Al Dawsari (Al Hilal), Musab Al Juwayr (Al Qadsiah), Alaa Al Hajji (Neom), Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal), Khalid Al Ghannam (Al Ettifaq), Ayman Yahya (Al Nassr)
Strikers: Firas Al Buraikan (Al Ahli), Saleh Al Shehri (Al Ittihad), Abdullah Al Hamdan (Al Nassr)
Uruguay
Hosts and winners of the first-ever World Cup in 1930 - and champions again in Brazil in 1950 - Uruguay have a fine pedigree in the competition. La Celeste (The Sky Blue), who will be appearing in their 15th World Cup finals this summer, have also finished fourth at the tournament on three occasions in 1954, 1970 and 2010 and got to the quarter-finals as recently as 2018.
By their high standards, Qatar 2022 was a disappointment for Uruguay. There, La Celeste were eliminated from the competition at the group phase, despite picking up four points in their three Group H matches. Diego Alonso's side drew 0-0 with South Korea in their opening game of the tournament at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan on 24 November 2022. A 2-0 defeat to Portugal in Lusail four days later was followed by a 2-0 win over Ghana in Al Wakrah on 2 December 2022. Both Uruguay and South Korea finished level on four points but South Korea finished second in the group and progressed to the knockout phase by virtue of goals scored.
Experienced former Argentina manager Marcelo Bielsa became head coach of Uruguay in May 2023. His side picked up an historic 2-0 victory over Brazil on 17 October that year which ended Brazil's unbeaten run in qualifiers stretching back to 2015. It was also Uruguay's first win over Brazil in 22 years. A few months later, Bielsa's side beat world champions Argentina at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires.
For much of his career, Bielsa has been synonymous with the unconventional 3-3-3-1 formation. His Uruguay team usually shapes up in a 4-4-1-1 though as we saw in friendlies against England and Algeria earlier this year.
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Uruguay Kit 1 |
Uruguay Kit 2 |
Saudi Arabia v Uruguay - June 15; Miami
Uruguay vs Cape Verde- June 21; Miami
Uruguay vs Spain - June 26; Zapopan (Mexico)
Coach
Record
Best World Cup: Winners in 1930 and 1950.
Formation
4-4-1-1
One to watch: Federico Valverde
One of the best central midfielders in world football right now, one of Federico Valverde’s greatest strengths is his versatility as demonstrated with his numerous appearances for Real Madrid at right-back.
Born in Montevideo on 22 July 1998, the 27-year-old joined Real from Peñarol in 2016 and has since gone on to play over 300 matches for the Spanish giants, during which time he has won three La Liga titles, two FIFA Club World Cups, two UEFA Champions League titles, two UEFA Super Cups, and the Copa del Rey. At the time of writing, he has won 73 caps for Uruguay.
Whilst not one of the out and out favourites for this World Cup, Uruguay will certainly be considered as tournament dark horses by many.
How they qualified
Uruguay were one of six CONMEBOL nations to secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, finishing fourth in the 10-team qualification series. The top six teams all qualified directly, with Uruguay joined by Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Paraguay. Seventh-placed Bolivia were beaten 2-1 by Iraq in their intercontinental play-off.
Uruguay's standout results in qualifying included the aforementioned victories over Brazil and Argentina in 2023. La Celeste won seven of their 18 matches in total while they drew seven and lost four.
On the sidelines
Uruguay's 2-1 victory over Brazil in the World Cup Final of 16 July 1950 still holds the record for the highest official attendance for a football match ever, with 173,850 in attendance for the game at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Sergio Rochet (Internacional), Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Santiago Mele (Junior FC)
Defenders: Guillermo Varela (Flamengo), Ronald Araujo (Barcelona), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Santiago Bueno (Wolves), Sebastian Caceres (Club America), Mathias Olivera (Napoli), Joaquin Piquerez (Palmeiras), Matias Vina (Flamengo)
Midfielders: Manuel Ugarte (Manchester United), Emiliano Martinez (Palmeiras), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Agustin Canobbio (Fluminense), Juan Manuel Sanabria (Atletico San Luis), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo), Nicolas de la Cruz (Flamengo), Rodrigo Zalazar (SC Braga), Facundo Pellistri (Panathinaikos), Maximiliano Araujo (Sporting CP), Brian Rodriguez (Club America)
Strikers: Rodrigo Aguirre (Club America), Federico Vinas (Real Oviedo), Darwin Nunez (Al Hilal)
World Cup Venue Cities
2026 World Cup Venue Cities - USA, Mexico and Canada.