World Cup 2026: Preview to Group H

Preview to Group H

SPAIN

MANAGER: Luis De La Fuente

FIFA RANKING: 2

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 16

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Winners - 2010

Spain will be right among the favourites to win this World Cup and a lot of people even have them to be the favourites. They won every game at the Euros two years ago and winning that tournament the way they did may have set them up for another period of dominance. They have an exciting young squad with the potential to achieve to repeat what their old golden generation did in dominating international football.

KEY PLAYER: Lamine Yamal

Position: Forward

Club: Barcelona

Yamal is already looking like a world class player at the age of just 18 and he comes into this tournament as Spain's main man. His game has gone from strength to strength since bursting onto the scene at the Euros and if he can have the same impact at this tournament, he could become the youngest player to ever win the Ballon D'or and especially if Spain go all the way.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Pau Cubarsi

Position: Centre Back

Club: Barcelona

Cubarsi is arguably the best young central defender in Europe after establishing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet at Barcelona. His awareness and reading of the game is first class and he's also a came presence on the pitch as he rarely dives into tackles. He's going to be a regular for Spain for at least the next decade if he continues progressing the way he is.

PREDICTION: Semi Finals

They've got an exciting young squad with the potential to repeat what their old golden generation did. Because of this they could go very far.

CAPE VERDE

MANAGER: Bubista

FIFA RANKING: 69

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 0

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: N/A

Cape Verde will be making their debut at these finals and for a country of their size to be at a tournament like the World Cup is truly remarkable. They might be higher ranked than some of the teams at this tournament, but they'll still be the biggest underdogs at this tournament because of how small a country they are. They're the third smallest country to ever play at a World Cup, behind Iceland and Curacao, and they'll go into it hoping to inspire not just their country, but other countries of their size that they can get to a major finals and compete.

KEY PLAYER: Dailon Livramento

Position: Striker

Club: Casa Mia

Livramento scored important goals during qualifying including the winners against Cameron and Eswatini with the latter being the one to send Cape Verde to these finals. If they're to stand any chance of making it out of this tough group, they're going to need him deliver those moments again because their attack isn't blessed with many goals.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Willy Semedo

Position: Winger

Club: Omonia

Semedo scored 17 goals in the Cypriot League last season and will need to repeat that form at this tournament if Cape Verde are to stand any chance. He's likely to be their main attacking outlet as he's quick, can cut inside and can both create and score goals, something Cape Verde's attack doesn't have a lot of.

PREDICTION: Group Stage

They don't have the quality or the experience to compete at such a high level. Because of this I can see them going home early.

SAUDI ARABIA

MANAGER: Herve Renard

FIFA RANKING: 61

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 6

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Last 16 - 1994

Saudi Arabia caused massive shockwaves across the world four years ago when they opened their World Cup campaign by beating eventual champions Argentina. But they again went out at the group stages as they went on to lose their other two group games. They've crash out at the group stages at every World Cup they've played since reaching the last 16 in 1994 which was where this World Cup will be held. But whether they'll make the same impact remains to be seen.

KEY PLAYER: Salem Al-Dawsari

Position: Winger

Club: Al-Hilal

He may be getting on at the age of 34, but Al-Dawsari is still Saudi's talisman and creative spark. He provides moments of quality when his team need them most, including the winners against Argentina four years ago and he'll be looking to provide more this summer.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Abdulelah Al-Amri

Position: Centre Back

Club: Al-Nassr

Al-Amri provides defensive security to the Saudi defence as he always makes key interventions and is always willing to put his body on the line. Whenever Saudi are under the cosh, he's always there to save them by making crucial goal line clearances and important interventions.

PREDICTION: Group Stage

They crash out at the group stage at every tournament because they've never had enough quality to qualify. As they're placed in another tough group, I can see the same happen again this year.

URUGUAY

MANAGER: Marcelo Bielsa

FIFA RANKING: 17

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 14

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: 1930 and 1950

This will be a different kind of Uruguay we'll see at this World Cup in that they'll be a more front footed team compared to the tough to beat side they used to be. This World Cup could be the start of a new era for them as most of the players from their golden generation (Suarez, Cavani, Godin etc) are no longer around and it will the chance to certain player to step up.

KEY PLAYER: Federico Valverde

Position: Midfielder

Club: Real Madrid

Valverde has been one the best midfielders in the world over the last few years due to his energy and versatility. He can play in a variety of positions and step up wherever he's asked to play and he'll come into this tournament as Uruguay's go-to player with the likes of Suarez and co. now gone.

PREDICTION: Last 32

They'll play with a lot of energy and especially under a manager like Bielsa. But they're not the team they used to be as they longer have the stars of yesterday and because of this, I don't see them going very far.