Favorites Spain face minnows Cape Verde in World Cup opener

Spain's quest for a second World Cup title begins Monday in Atlanta against Cape Verde, a nation making its historic debut in the tournament. The European champions face an opponent that, on paper, appears to be from a different footballing planet, yet Cape Verde's players are embracing the excitement of their first World Cup appearance.

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Spain have become close to immovable over the last four years, going 30 matches unbeaten since a 1-0 friendly loss to Colombia at Wembley in March 2024.

Luis de la Fuente's Spanish side has been remarkably consistent, boasting a 30-match unbeaten run since a friendly loss to Colombia in March 2024. During this period, they have secured 23 wins and seven draws, often playing an entertaining, attacking style of football. The only blemish on this otherwise spotless record was a penalty shootout defeat to Portugal in the 2025 Nations League final, following a 2-2 draw after extra time, where Spain twice held the lead.

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With fewer than 600,000 inhabitants, are the third-smallest country by population to reach the tournament after Iceland in 2018 and Curacao, also in 2026.

Cape Verde, however, is not merely participating for the sake of romance. The Blue Sharks were one of the surprise qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. With a population of fewer than 600,000, they are the third-smallest country by population to reach the tournament, following Iceland in 2018 and Curacao, also in 2026. Their journey to this stage has been a collective effort, drawing strength from both their archipelago and a widespread diaspora.

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Their rise has been stitched together from an archipelago and a diaspora.

This blend of talent proved highly effective during qualification, where Cape Verde won seven of their ten matches, suffered only one loss, and secured a notable home victory against Cameroon. While their World Cup berth may seem like a fairy tale, Cape Verde has been steadily building credibility for years. In 2013, they qualified for their first Africa Cup of Nations and reached the quarterfinals in their debut. Spain, meanwhile, may adopt a cautious approach with key players Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who are recovering from hamstring injuries sustained in April. Both have returned to training, but coach De la Fuente might prioritize patience over unnecessary risk. For Spain, the ultimate goal is a second World Cup trophy, echoing their 2010 triumph. For Cape Verde, this match represents the opening chapter of a story their supporters have eagerly awaited for generations.

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In 2013, they qualified for their first Africa Cup of Nations and reached the quarterfinals at the first attempt.