Group H is the group of death — Spain and Uruguay share a group, meaning two genuine title contenders fight for two spots. Spain arrive as pre-tournament favourites with a young, technically brilliant squad. Uruguay have produced some of the finest South American players of this generation. Saudi Arabia seek to repeat their extraordinary 2022 upset of Argentina. Cape Verde make a historic first World Cup appearance.

🇪🇸 Spain

Spain won the World Cup in 2010 with their iconic tiki-taka style, beating the Netherlands in the final. They have also won three European Championships and are widely considered the most technically advanced footballing nation in history. The current generation built around La Masia graduates represents a new peak of Spanish talent.

🇺🇾 Uruguay

Uruguay are founding champions of the World Cup, winning the inaugural tournament in 1930 and again in 1950 in the legendary Maracanazo — defeating Brazil in front of 200,000 people. They are one of only 8 nations to have won the World Cup and remain South America's most resilient footballing identity.

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's greatest World Cup moment came in 2022 when they defeated Argentina 2-1 in one of the greatest upsets in tournament history. They have qualified for 6 World Cups and in 2026 they will attempt to prove that Lusail was not an aberration but the beginning of a new era for Arabian football.

🇨🇻 Cape Verde

Cape Verde make their first World Cup appearance in 2026, becoming one of the smallest nations by population ever to qualify for the tournament. Their squad is built largely around players born in Portugal and other European nations with Cape Verdean heritage — a remarkable story of diaspora football.