Spain will begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on Monday, June 15, 2026, following their Euro 2024 triumph.
The match pits the world's second-ranked team against the 67th-placed African side.
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Luis de la Fuente's squad enters the tournament in outstanding form, having avoided defeat since March 2024.
However, key forwards Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are likely to be absent due to hamstring injuries sustained late in the club season.
Cape Verde is the second smallest nation in the tournament, after Curacao.
The island nation arrives after a 3-0 friendly win over Serbia and a victory against Cameroon last year.
Coaches Share Perspectives Ahead of Opener
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente expressed satisfaction with his team's preparation. "The level of performance has been exactly as we expected.
These players are exceptionally talented, and every training session someone surprises you," he said.
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De la Fuente emphasized his focus on short-term goals. "I am very practical and focus on the short term.
I never dreamed of being here; I dreamed of doing my job well every day," he added.
Cape Verde coach Bubista framed qualification as a historic cultural achievement. "Qualification means more than just football, it's a cultural achievement.
We want to show our country to the world," he stated.
Bubista highlighted his team's fearless mentality. "We're a team that play without fear… We like challenges, because we like overcoming difficulties," he said.
The Cape Verdean coach also outlined an attacking philosophy.
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"We want to show our identity as a team, which means being brave when we have the ball in attack," he concluded.
