Spain vs Cape Verde Islands takes place today at 19:00 GMT+3 at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in the World Cup 2026.
With seven clean sheets in their last nine matches, Spain can make their World Cup opener count.
Below is the full match preview, predictions and betting analysis.
Spain vs Cape Verde Islands Tips
- Spain vs Cape Verde Islands: Spain to Win To Nil @ with N/A
- Spain vs Cape Verde Islands: Spain 4-0 @ with N/A
*Odds correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Spain vs Cape Verde Islands Odds
| Result | Odds |
|---|---|
| Spain |
|
| Draw |
|
| Cape Verde Islands |
|
*Odds correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
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Spain vs Cape Verde Islands Predictions
A defensive run that keeps drawing attention
Spain arrive at this World Cup with a remarkable record behind them. La Roja are unbeaten in normal time across their last 29 matches, while six victories have arrived in their previous nine games.
The clean-sheet numbers are just as notable. Spain have shut opponents out seven times during those last nine fixtures, turning defensive consistency into one of the defining features of Luis de la Fuente’s side. In a tournament opener, that record immediately becomes relevant.
Cape Verde are appearing at a World Cup for the first time in their history. The Blue Sharks are expected to finish bottom of Group H, yet their qualification campaign deserves mention after they topped a difficult group containing Cameroon. They also produced an eye-catching 3-0 win over Serbia in a recent warm-up fixture.
Still, the gap between those achievements and facing the World Cup favourites remains considerable. Spain’s recent sequence of clean sheets, combined with an unbeaten run stretching across 29 matches in normal time, makes backing Spain to Win To Nil seem a safe strategy at 1.50.
Tip: Spain to Win To Nil @ with N/A
A scoreline that matches Spain’s recent scoring range
Exact-score markets require a different angle, and Spain’s recent attacking output offers one. Luis de la Fuente’s team have scored at least four goals in three of their last eight matches.
More specifically, exactly four goals have arrived in two of those eight fixtures. That detail matters when assessing a correct-score selection rather than a straightforward match result.
The World Cup setting also adds another layer. Spain begin the tournament as the team many expect to challenge for the trophy, while Cape Verde are making their debut on football’s biggest stage. The African side have already shown quality by finishing above Cameroon in qualifying and beating Serbia 3-0, so their presence here is fully deserved. Yet Spain’s scoring record remains the dominant statistical theme for this market.
Lamine Yamal is also expected to be fit for the opener after scoring 16 goals in 28 La Liga appearances for Barcelona last season. His numbers underline the attacking options available to Spain, although the focus here remains on the overall scoreline rather than an individual market.
Three four-goal returns in the last eight games and two exact four-goal totals in that period make Spain 4-0 very appealing at 7.50.
Tip: Spain 4-0 @ with N/A
Spain vs Cape Verde Islands Projected Starting Lineups
Spain
Simon, Cucurella, Laporte, Cubarsi, Llorente, Rodri, Fabian, Pedri, Olmo, Oyarzabal, Ferran.
Cape Verde Islands
Vozinha, Diney, L. Costa, Lopes, Moreira, D. Duarte, Lenini, Cabral, Monteiro, Mendes, Livramento.
