Spain v Cape Verde LIVE: Lamine Yamal on bench for World Cup opener against huge underdogs

There have been a couple of loose passes in the final third from Spain, with Fabian Ruiz the latest guilty party.

Cape Verde look tidy with the ball at their feet, though there isn’t a lot of attacking threat at the moment. Spain seem happ y to sit off when their opponents have the ball.

It will be interesting to see who is used as a striker for La Roja during this tournament now that Alvaro Morata is not in the squad. Mikel Oyarzabal has started there this evening, though might that change in other games?

Ferran Torres and Gavi are on the wings to begin with.

It hasn’t taken long for Spain to settle into possession! They’re lurking menacingly around the Cape Verde box already, though Cucurella has given away a free-kick to end the attack.

We’re underway in Atlanta! On paper it should be a simple game for Spain, but will they lay down a real marker this evening? We’re about to find out.

“I think this could be a five, maybe six-goal game,” says Carli Lloyd on Fox.

Thiago dismisses any suggestion that Spain need to lay down a marker this evening after Germany’s 7-1 win yesterday.

We’ll be underway in a few minutes in Atlanta.

Both sets of players have emerged from the tunnel at the Atlanta Stadium, so we’ll be underway soon after the anthems!

“They’re playing against the favourites but they have nothing to lose and everything to gain,” says Javier Hernandez on Fox. The debutants have not lost a competitive game since late in 2024!

On Spain, the former Mexico striker says that “they have big chances to win this World Cup”.

“It’s sometimes a blessing and a curse, but there are soccer gods and things sometimes work in your favour!” says Women’s World Cup winner Carli Lloyd on Spain’s tag as favourites.

Luis de la Fuente’s side begin the tournament as favourites after a hugely successful last few years that started with a victorious Euro 2024 campaign two summers ago. La Roja have been in fine form since beating England in Berlin, losing just once – in the 2025 Nations League final, on penalties to Portugal.

Spain have not come close to winning football’s biggest prize since their famed campaign of 2010, but there is a feeling at home that this squad is the best equipped to do so since the days of Iniesta, Xavi and co. After exiting the tournament at the round of 16 stage to Morocco in Qatar, a semi-final berth would be the minimum expectation this time round, but in private there might be questions asked if this side doesn’t go all the way.

Many of the same names from the 2024 squad will be present in North America this summer. De la Fuente has already made a bold move in selecting a squad devoid of any Real Madrid players, with both Dani Carvajal and Dean Huijsen left at home as La Roja go for a blend of experience and youthful verve. Lamine Yamal will once again be the focal point of the squad, supported by the likes of Rodri, Pedri and Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored the winner in Berlin two years ago.

There are some questions over defensive options and the fit of some of the attackers in the squad, but if de la Fuente can successfully adapt the game plan used in 2024, Spain may well end this summer with another star over the famous crest.

Here’s a brief look at the group stage fixtures for the favourites then:

15 June, 5pm: Spain v Cape Verde – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

21 June, 5pm: Spain v Saudi Arabia – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

27 June, 1am: Uruguay v Spain – Estadio Akron, Zapopan (Mexico)