Spain Opens as World Cup Favorite, while Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Iran and New Zealand Also Feature

Spain begins its World Cup 2026 campaign tonight against Cape Verde in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with kickoff at 7:00 p.m. in Group 8. After weeks of concern over injuries, Spain has good news at last, as Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams have returned to full training and Víctor Muñoz is back in the squad. Coach Luis de la Fuente says his team arrives ready for the test and believes this side can move from being an excellent team to a historic one by winning a second World Cup, following Spain’s 2010 triumph in South Africa.

The buildup to the tournament has been shaped by injuries to Yamal and Williams, the two wingers who have transformed Spain’s attack. Yamal missed nearly two months after a hamstring injury in April with Barcelona, while Williams was sidelined after a similar problem with Athletic Bilbao. De la Fuente may still rest them against Cape Verde, but the priority is having both at peak fitness for the knockout rounds. Yamal, 18, finished the season with direct involvement in 41 goals in all competitions, and De la Fuente said, “Lamine Yamal was born for these moments.” He added, “There are very few players in the world that God has touched, and Lamine is one of them.”

Spain’s strength, however, goes well beyond Yamal. The squad also includes Fabián Ruiz, Mikel Merino, Dani Olmo and Pedri in midfield, while Mikel Oyarzabal remains the leading striker after scoring the winner in the Euro 2024 final against England. De la Fuente said the team’s real strength is its human connection and sense of family, and he compared it to Spain’s 2010 side. Opta’s forecast, based on millions of simulations, rates Spain as the most likely winner of the tournament. With Saudi Arabia and Uruguay also in Group 8, Spain is the clear favorite to top the group.

In the later Group 7 match, Belgium faces Egypt at 10:00 p.m. Belgium has rebuilt after the end of its so-called golden generation, with Thibaut Courtois back at a major tournament and Romelu Lukaku included again under coach Rudi Garcia. A player to watch is 21-year-old Matthias Fernandes-Pardo, who chose Belgium over Spain. Egypt is led by Mohamed Salah, 34, who left Liverpool this summer after nine years and now has 67 international goals, two short of Hossam Hassan’s national scoring record.

At 1:00 a.m. between Monday and Tuesday, Saudi Arabia meets Uruguay in Group 8, a clash between a technically minded Middle Eastern side and a traditionally rugged South American one. Saudi Arabia is coached by former Maccabi Tel Aviv manager Giorgos Donis, who was fired after four months in 2020 and later sharply criticized Israel, saying what is happening in Palestine is “genocide.” Saudi expectations are modest, while Uruguay, coached by Marcelo Bielsa, has moved on from 39-year-old Luis Suárez and will be led by Federico Valverde and Ronald Araújo. At 4:00 a.m., Iran plays New Zealand in Group 7 in a match described as politically charged because Iran is competing in Los Angeles amid a military confrontation with the United States. Iran dropped Sardar Azmoun from the squad after he posted support for the United Arab Emirates, while captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh is expected to lead the team. New Zealand is at its third World Cup and famously drew all three of its 2010 group games.