Spain and Belgium Begin Their World Cup Campaigns

On the fifth day of the 2026 World Cup, two of Europe’s biggest sides, Spain and Belgium, begin their group-stage campaigns on Monday. Spain, the reigning European champion, are heavy favorites against modest Cape Verde in Group H, while Belgium face Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, in a Group G clash in Seattle.

Spain arrive with high expectations under coach Luis de la Fuente. Their game plan is built on long spells of possession and quick, short passing, designed to wear Cape Verde down and exploit gaps in the defense. Lamine Yamal passed a fitness test, but the staff is expected to use him from the bench to avoid risking him over the rest of the tournament.

Cape Verde’s qualification itself is described as historic, and the team is expected to rely on a compact defensive setup and rapid counterattacks. Hélio Varela, who plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv, is not expected to start.

Belgium, meanwhile, are hoping to move past recent disappointments and begin what could be the final major tournament for part of their Golden Generation. Their setup will rely heavily on Kevin De Bruyne in midfield and Romelu Lukaku up front. Egypt are presented as disciplined and organized, aiming to limit Belgian pressure and release Salah, who can decide matches with a single individual move. The article also lists likely lineups for both matches and shows both Group G and Group H still at 0 points before kickoff.