World Cup Day 5: Spain Opens Against Cape Verde as Iran’s Match Draws Political Attention

On the fifth day of the 2026 World Cup, Spain enters the tournament as one of the main favorites and is expected to cruise past debutant Cape Verde in Atlanta at 19:00. Coach is likely to rest Lamine Yamal, who is returning from injury, unless Spain is not leading late in the match. Mikel Oyarzabal is expected to spearhead the attack alongside Ferran Torres, Alex Baena and Fabian Ruiz, while Maccabi Tel Aviv player Helio Varela is set to start on the bench.

Belgium faces Egypt in Seattle at 22:00. Belgium reached the 2018 World Cup semifinals, but its next generation has not fully delivered, and after being eliminated in the group stage at the previous tournament, expectations remain modest despite its No. 9 FIFA ranking. Egypt, one of Africa’s most decorated sides, still has no World Cup win, and while Mohamed Salah is viewed as past his peak after a difficult season, the match is still considered open because the tournament has already shown that no result is guaranteed.

Uruguay meets Saudi Arabia in Miami at 01:00 between Monday and Tuesday. Saudi Arabia has qualified for 7 of the last 9 World Cups, but has advanced beyond the group stage only once, in 1994, and wants to show progress ahead of hosting the 2034 tournament. Uruguay, which won the first World Cup in 1930, arrives with a talented squad led by Federico Valverde and Darwin Nunez, and in a group that also includes Spain, this already looks like the key match for second place.

The most talked-about fixture is Iran against New Zealand in Los Angeles at 04:00 between Monday and Tuesday, mainly for political reasons. Iran is playing its fourth straight World Cup on the same day a framework agreement with the United States was signed to end the Middle East war. The players received one-day U.S. visas and must leave immediately after the game, and they have said the tension has affected preparations. Iran has never reached the knockout stage, but a win over New Zealand could help, especially in a group that also includes Belgium and Egypt. If Iran and the United States both finish second in their groups, they would meet in the next round.