Spain have left star forward Lamine Yamal on the bench as they open their World Cup campaign against tournament debutants Cape Verde.
Barcelona’s Yamal, who so enlivened Euro 2024, entered the tournament under an injury cloud, although manager Luis de la Fuente revealed on match eve that he should be fit to play some part in Atlanta. That is a significant boost to a team that will have designs on a tilt at global glory after securing their continental crown two summers ago.
One would expect Spain to have few issues in this opening fixture, but Cape Verde have plenty of high-level European experience within the ranks and the capacity to cause problems for their more vaunted opponents. Now Africa Cup of Nations regulars, it is a tough task to start for Bubista’s side – but you never know in tournament football...
Follow all of the latest from the Group H clash with our live blog below:
Spain vs Cape Verde LIVE
- Spain begin World Cup campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta | Live on ITV with kick off at 5pm BST
- European champions boosted by availability of Lamine Yamal on bench after injury
- Cape Verde are making their tournament debut
- Spain XI: Simon; Llorente, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz, Gavi, Rodri, Pedri; Torres, Oyarzabal.
- Cape Verde XI: Vozinha; Lopes Cabral, Diney, Moreira, Lopes; Pina, Cabral, Monteiro, Duarte; Livramento, Mendes.
Spain v Cape Verde live
16:42 , Chris Wilson
Spain's World Cup fixtures
16:37 , Chris Wilson
Here’s a brief look at the group stage fixtures for the favourites then:
15 June, 5pm: Spain v Cape Verde – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
21 June, 5pm: Spain v Saudi Arabia – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
27 June, 1am: Uruguay v Spain – Estadio Akron, Zapopan (Mexico)
Thiago: 'They'll have an amazing World Cup'
16:32 , Chris Wilson
“I’ll say that they’ll have an amazing World Cup” says former Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara on his nation’s chances.
“There’s a hunger that we have, a belief in the way we play football. We have the ball to hurt the other team,” he cays as he explains how Spain will look to start this evening.
Yama & Williams on bench for Spain
16:27 , Chris Wilson
Perhaps unsurprisingly – given their respective injury issues – both Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are on the bench this afternoon.
The wing duo may have sat part of this one out anyway given that there are more difficult games to come soon, though Luis de la Fuente has gone with a strong line-up nonetheless.
Most eyes will probably be on how Ferran Torres and Mikel Oyarzabal perform in their respective attacking roles.
Mikel Merino wary not to overlook opponents
16:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
“I think people now see us as real trophy contenders,” Arsenal midfielder Merino said on match eve. “We should draw confidence and energy from it, and make sure we don’t get complacent. If that’s how everyone sees us, then it’s because we’ve earned it and we should believe in ourselves. We shouldn’t be overconfident, though, or feel that we’re automatically better than anyone else. Any side can beat you on their day, but it should fuel our self-belief. If we play our best football, we can beat anyone.”
Hope for Cape Verde?
16:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Spain corrected a concerning trend at the last World Cup of being slow starters at the tournament. A 7-0 win over Costa Rica was their first opening-round success since 2002, with a draw with 3-3 Portugal (2018) following defeats to the Netherlands (2014) and Switzerland (2010). Not that it mattered in the end in South Africa, of course.
Cape Verde look to rise to the challenge
16:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Cape Verde manager Bubista is hopeful his side can rise to the challenge as they make their World Cup bow in Atlanta.
"We want to show what we did during qualifier,” he said. “We want to compete with our identify and to play all of our matches with courage and organisation to show the world what we are as a team and as a country. We know how difficult it will be and we are aware of Spain's value, but the game is still played on the pitch."
Team news - Cape Verde
15:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Cape Verde XI: Vozinha; Lopes Cabral, Diney, Moreira, Lopes; Pina, Cabral, Monteiro, Duarte; Livramento, Mendes.
Team news - Spain
15:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Lamine Yamal is only on the bench for Spain as Marcos Llorente gets the nod over Pedro Porro at right back.
Spain XI: Simon; Llorente, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz, Gavi, Rodri, Pedri; Torres, Oyarzabal.
Team news on the way...
15:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Right, a major dollop of team news is on the way from Atlanta. Will it be a bench role for Lamine Yamal as anticipated? Or does Luis de la Fuente have a surprise up his (red and yellow striped) sleeve?
Clash of contrasts
15:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
This, incidentally, is only the fifth biggest rankings mismatch at this World Cup – on paper, that is. There are 65 places between Spain in second and Cape Verde in 67th on the official Fifa table, and the archipelagic nation feel upwardly mobile. They were Afcon quarter-finalists in 2023, of course, and will hope to push Spain hard in their first meeting.
Spain embracing expectations ahead of World Cup opener
15:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente believes his side are ready to handle the expectation that comes with entering the World Cup as European champions.
"There is excitement, hunger… They’re very competitive players, determined to always do things right," De la Fuente said. "They're aware how important this moment is for them at the World Cup. Several are making their debut.
“Nothing in life can compare to the feeling of taking on a challenge head-on with excitement, purpose and determination. That's something I think really stands out about this squad and these players. If they’re feeling like that, you can imagine how I feel."
Water-gate: Fifa’s lucrative World Cup breaks are ruining the spectacle
15:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The stadium in Atlanta comes complete with what I’ve heard is outstanding air conditioning – making the mid-half water break even more of an annoyance. Lawrence Ostlere wants rid of them.
Water-gate: Fifa’s lucrative World Cup breaks are ruining the spectacle
Today's venue
15:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Normally known as the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, today’s venue really is a sparkling facility – as you might expect for a building that cost the best part of £1.5bn to build. With a capacity of 75,000, the Atlanta arena is due to host one of the semi-finals, as well as a tie in each of the round of 32 and round of 16.
Marc Cucurella completes move from Chelsea to Real Madrid in £52m deal
14:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle
One would imagine that Marc Cucurella will start for Spain today, but it has been a busy couple of days for the full-back – he has now completed a move from Chelsea to Real Madrid:
Marc Cucurella completes move from Chelsea to Real Madrid in £52m deal
What to know about the Cape Verde squad?
14:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Dublin-born Shamrock Rovers centre-back Roberto Lopes, who first received an international call-up when the manager contacted him via LinkedIn, is part of Cape Verde’s squad for their first-ever World Cup. Coach Bubista has also taken a gamble on the fitness of centre-back Logan Costa, who played limited minutes for Villarreal at the end of the season in his first action since rupturing his ACL last July, while San Diego goalkeeper CJ dos Santos is the only uncapped player in the squad after having a switch of allegiance from the US approved by Fifa recently.
Coach: Bubista
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)
Forwards: 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)
Group H fixtures
14:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
(all times BST)
15 June, 5pm: Spain v Cape Verde – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
15 June, 11pm: Saudi Arabia v Uruguay – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
21 June, 5pm: Spain v Saudi Arabia – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
21 June, 11pm: Uruguay v Cape Verde – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
27 June, 1am: Uruguay v Spain – Estadio Akron, Zapopan (Mexico)
27 June, 1am: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia - NRG Stadium, Houston
World Cup 2026 – Group H guide
14:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Uruguay and Saudi Arabia are the other sides in Group H, an intriguing little collection of sides. Here’s Chris Wilson‘s comprehensive guide:
World Cup 2026 – Group H guide: Spain take on Uruguay as Cape Verde fairytale begins
How Spain have developed ‘tiki-taka 2.0’ in pursuit of World Cup glory
14:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Spain arrive at this World Cup as the reigning European champions, and strong contenders to go deep over the next six weeks. Chris Wilson explores how they have developed a new kind of tiki-taka after a few lean years.
How Spain have developed ‘tiki-taka 2.0’ in pursuit of World Cup glory
Spain boss provides Lamine Yamal update ahead of Cape Verde clash
14:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Spain boss Luis De La Fuente has revealed Lamine Yamal is in “perfect condition” following injury concerns.
The teenager has been sidelined since April with a hamstring problem and subsequently missed the final stages of Barcelona’s La Liga-winning season.
Spain kick off their Group H campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta and De la Fuente provided an update on Yamal along with the rest of the squad ahead of their opening game.
“The best news is that he’s in perfect condition,” De La Fuente said. “The process we had planned has gone as expected and he’s arrived at the scheduled time.
“I can tell you that everyone will be available. That doesn’t mean they’ll be ready for the whole match, but the best news is that they’re in good form.”
Spain vs Cape Verde LIVE
11:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A very good afternoon. Another World Cup contender is just about ready to get underway in Atlanta, Spain looking to back up their European triumph with success on the global stage. They begin their tournament against debutants Cape Verde, with the archipelagic state raring to go for their first fixture on this stage.
Kick off is at 5pm BST.
