Spain vs Cape Verde Islands
Spain held to goalless draw by Cape Verde Islands
A stubborn Cape Verde Islands side frustrates Spain in a scoreless World Cup stalemate.
Spain were expected to secure a comfortable win, but the match ended in a 0-0 draw as neither side could find the net. The result defied Fipster's confident prediction of a 2-0 home victory, marking a surprising upset in the competition.
Analysis
The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off with Spain facing the Cape Verde Islands in a Group Stage opener. Spain, boasting a squad entirely from top European leagues, are clear favourites against the debutant Cape Verde Islands, who have a much smaller presence in elite competitions.
Spain have qualified directly, topping their group with 16 points and a goal difference of +19. Their squad features stars like Rodri from Manchester City and Fabián Ruiz from Paris Saint Germain, all playing in top-5 European leagues. Cape Verde Islands also qualified directly, leading their group with 23 points, but only have one player, Logan Costa of Villarreal, in a top-5 league. Neither team is hosting the tournament, which is held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Spain's squad calibre is significantly stronger, with all 26 players in top European leagues compared to Cape Verde's single top-5 league player. Spain's recent form is excellent, averaging 2.667 points per game over the last 12 months, while Cape Verde's form is decent but less impressive. Spain's midfield creativity, led by Pedri and Rodri, is expected to unlock Cape Verde's defence. Cape Verde rely heavily on attackers Ryan Mendes and Gilson Benchimol, which limits their scoring depth. Both teams have full squads available, ensuring tactical consistency.
Prediction
We predict a 2-0 victory for Spain, with a halftime lead of 1-0. The strong squad quality and home advantage favour Spain to control the match and secure a comfortable win. The match is expected to see three cards, reflecting typical group stage discipline.
Outcome probability
Key Insights
Spain's midfield creativity vs Cape Verde defense
Spain's midfielders like Pedri and Rodri offer superior creativity and passing, likely to unlock Cape Verde's defense.
Home advantage boosts Spain's scoring chances
Spain's home form and quality edge increase likelihood of multiple goals, aligning with predicted 2-0 score.
Cape Verde's reliance on key attackers
Cape Verde depends heavily on Ryan Mendes and Gilson Benchimol for goals, limiting scoring depth.
No injuries for either side
Both teams have full squads available, ensuring strongest lineups and tactical consistency.
Key Takeaways
Spain's dominance in squad quality and recent form makes them the clear favourites to start their World Cup 2026 campaign with a win. Cape Verde Islands, making their World Cup debut, face a tough challenge but will gain valuable experience from this encounter.
- Spain has 16 prior World Cup appearances and won the tournament in 2010.
- Cape Verde Islands are World Cup debutants in 2026.
- Spain qualified directly, finishing first in their qualifying group with 16 points.
- Cape Verde Islands also qualified directly, topping their group with 23 points.
- Spain's entire 26-player squad plays in top-5 European leagues.
- Cape Verde Islands have only one player in a top-5 European league.
- Spain's recent form shows 2.667 points per game over the last 12 months.
- The 2026 World Cup is hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but neither team is a host nation.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — Spain
Away — Cape Verde Islands
No standout best passers flagged for Cape Verde Islands
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
FIFA world ranking
Lopes Cabral
Yellow Card
Livramento
Jovane Cabral
Duarte
Gavi
Ruiz
Lopes Cabral
Jamiro Monteiro
Torres
Rodri
Pedri
Yellow Card
Match Statistics
Spain
4-3-3Starting XI
- 5Marcos LlorenteD
- 7Ferran TorresF
- 8Fabián RuizM
- 9GaviF
- 14Aymeric LaporteD
- 16RodriM
- 20PedriM
- 21Mikel OyarzabalF
- 22Pau Cubarsí ParedesD
- 23Unai SimónG
- 24Marc CucurellaD
Substitutes
- 1David RayaG
- 2Marc PubillD
- 3Álex GrimaldoD
- 4Eric GarcíaD
- 6Mikel MerinoM
- 10Dani OlmoM
- 11Yeremy PinoM
- 12Pedro PorroD
- 13Joan GarcíaG
- 15Álex BaenaM
- 17Nico WilliamsF
- 18Martín ZubimendiM
- 19Lamine YamalF
- 25Víctor MuñozF
- 26Borja IglesiasF
Cape Verde Islands
4-1-4-1Starting XI
- 1VózinhaG
- 3Diney BorgesD
- 4PicoD
- 6Kevin PinaM
- 7Jovane CabralM
- 10Jamiro MonteiroM
- 13S. Lopes CabralD
- 15L. DuarteM
- 19D. LivramentoF
- 20Ryan MendesM
- 22S. MoreiraD
Substitutes
- 2StopiraD
- 5Logan CostaD
- 8João PauloM
- 9Gilson BenchimolF
- 11Garry RodriguesF
- 12Márcio RosaG
- 14Deroy DuarteM
- 16Yannick SemedoM
- 17Willy SemedoF
- 18Telmo ArcanjoM
- 21Nuno da CostaF
- 23C. dos SantosG
- 24Wagner PinaD
- 25Kelvin PiresD
- 26Hélio VarelaF
Spain
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedri | M | 92 | 9.0 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3/3 |
| Rodri(C) | M | 87 | 8.3 | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | — |
| Aymeric Laporte | D | 92 | 8.0 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| Marcos Llorente | D | 92 | 7.7 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — |
| Pau Cubarsí | D | 92 | 7.7 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Marc Cucurella | D | 92 | 7.2 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1/2 |
| Fabián Ruiz | M | 71 | 7.0 | — | — | 5 | 1 | — | — |
| Unai Simón | G | 92 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pablo Gavi | F | 71 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mikel Oyarzabal | F | 92 | 6.2 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0/2 |
| Ferran Torres | F | 81 | 5.6 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0/2 |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Eric García | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Borja Iglesias | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pedro Porro | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Alex Baena | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Joan García | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nico Williams | F | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Yéremy Pino | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Marc Pubill | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Alejandro Grimaldo | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Victor Muñoz | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| David Raya | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Martín Zubimendi | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Lamine Yamal | F | 21 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | 2/3 |
| Dani Olmo | M | 11 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Mikel Merino | M | 21 | 6.5 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — |
Cape Verde Islands
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vozinha | G | 92 | 9.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Diney Borges | D | 92 | 8.2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 0/1 |
| Pico | D | 92 | 7.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ryan Mendes(C) | M | 92 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sidny Lopes Cabral | D | 76 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1/1 |
| Jovane Cabral | M | 61 | 6.6 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1/1 |
| Jamiro Monteiro | M | 79 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/2 |
| Dailon Rocha Livramento | F | 61 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| Steven Moreira | D | 92 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/1 |
| Laros Duarte | M | 61 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kevin Lenini | M | 92 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/2 |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Stopira | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Logan Costa | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hélio Varela | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kelvin Pires | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CJ Dos Santos | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Márcio Rosa | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Garry Rodrigues | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Yannick Semedo | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wagner Pina | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gilson Tavares | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| João Paulo | M | 16 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Telmo Arcanjo | M | 13 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Willy Semedo | F | 31 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/2 |
| Deroy Duarte | M | 31 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Nuno Da Costa | F | 31 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |