Spain vs Cape Verde predictions: Oyarzabal to get Spain’s campaign off to a flyer
Nathan Evans
Mikel Oyarzabal has scored or assisted a goal in each of his last twelve starts for Spain.
The Sociedad star should give the Cape Verde defence plenty of problems to contend with.
Recommended Bet: Mikel Oyarzabal to score first
Spain embark on their 13th consecutive World Cup campaign on Monday with what should be a relatively straightforward Group H opener against debutants Cape Verde.
Unbeaten across their last 30 internationals in 90 minutes, Luis de la Fuente’s side enter as one of the favourites to win the tournament after coming through qualifying with five wins from six.
Conceding just two goals across that time, the reigning European champions should prove far too strong for Cape Verde in Atlanta who themselves enter the World Cup for the very first time.
The Blue Sharks overcame Cameroon in their qualification group to advance to the showpiece event, and having won each of their final two warm-up friendlies by a 3-0 scoreline, they will be dreaming of causing one of the competition’s biggest ever upsets at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The latest Spain vs Cape Verde odds are available on LiveScore.
Follow every World Cup 2026 score with LiveScore
Team news
Spain welcomed back wonderkid Lamine Yamal to training this week after he missed the final six matches of Barcelona’s campaign en route to lifting the LaLiga title.
Manager Luis de la Fuente is confident that he will be able to play some part of this opener, though a start may be slightly ambitious this time around.
Yamal’s teammate Nico Williams is also struggling for fitness ahead of this showdown due to a hamstring injury, though he too should at least make the bench.
As for Cape Verde, they arrive at their very first World Cup with no injury concerns as manager Bubista has a full compliment to choose from, favouring a 4-3-3 set up, with Diney Borges and captain Roberto Lopes usually the centre-back pairing.
Kevin Lenini looks set to anchor the midfield three with Jovane Cabral and top appearance-maker Ryan Mendes operating as the two wide men.
Nuno Da Costa has been the preferred main striker over recent matches though Dailon Livramento could start, having scored four goals across his last five World Cup qualifiers.
The latest Spain vs Cape Verde odds are available on LiveScore.
The stats
This will be the first ever meeting between Spain and Cape Verde.
Spain have only ever lost once against African opponents at the FIFA World Cup, a 3-2 defeat to Nigeria in 1998.
Cape Verde are the 14th African team to participate in the FIFA World Cup.
The Blue Sharks will be aiming to become the first side from the continent to reach the knockout stages in their debut appearance since Ghana in 2006.
Spain scored 21 goals and conceded only two in topping their qualifying group with five wins and one draw in six games.
Cape Verde scored 16 goals and conceded eight as they won seven of 10 games in qualifying, losing only once.
Oyarzabal was one of only three European players to be involved in 10+ goals during qualifying (six goals, four assists).
The latest Spain vs Cape Verde odds are available on LiveScore.
Prediction
Despite facing the weakest side in their group on matchday one according to FIFA’s latest rankings, Spain still need to produce the goods and fight off any complacency.
La Roja go into this match on the back of a routine 3-1 victory over Peru in their final warm-up match, though a 1-1 draw with Iraq just a few days prior stands as a warning ahead of this opener.
Regardless of that stalemate, the 2010 World Cup winners should still have far too much quality for Cape Verde to cope with on this occasion.
Their overall pace and skill, coupled with Pedri’s excellent vision and Oyarzabal’s fine finishing should see them make a winning start.
Oyarzabal’s recent productivity for his country has been outstanding in particular and he looks like the most likely candidate to get on the scoresheet.
He struck his side’s opener after just two minutes against Peru in their final warm-up match, taking his overall tally to 25 goals in 53 caps.
Twelve of those have come in his 12 appearances as he remains as one of European football’s most in-form finishers.
Score prediction: Spain 5-0 Cape Verde
Back Mikel Oyarzabal to score first at 13/5 with LiveScore Bet.
