the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H matches will take place from 15 to 26 June. Group H has a clear favourite, Spain, which is considered to be one of the main contenders for the overall title. Spain will be joined in the group by Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde.
Cape Verde will be playing in the World Cup for the first time in its history, while the other three teams will be participating in the 2022 tournament. In this article you will find the full schedule, team preview and bookmaker odds.
Key points to know
- Spain is the clear favourite in the group with odds of 1,21 for first place.
- Cape Verde will be playing in the World Cup for the first time in the country's history.
- Spain won the World Cup in 2010, while Uruguay won it twice, in 1930 and 1950.
- Cape Verde's odds of less than 1.5 points are 1.75, a good value bet.
- The main players to watch are L. Yamal, Wozinha, S. Al-Dawsari and F. Valverde.
- The decisive match between Spain and Uruguay will take place in the last round.
Group H teams and schedule
Spain is the standout team in Group H, as it is Spain that makes the group interesting. The overall level of the teams here is quite low. Uruguay can surprise, but don't expect much from Saudi Arabia or the debuting Cape Verde. The stadiums atmosfera should be excellent, but the big question is whether we will see many intriguing matches.
If Spain or Uruguay don't reach the round of 32 it would be a big surprise. Saudi Arabia's aim is to beat Cape Verde and try to get at least 4 points, which could be enough to qualify for the next round from third place.
The bookmakers' odds are for them to win the group or finish in the top 2:
| Team | Win the group | TOP 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 1,21 | 1,02 |
| Uruguay | 5,00 | 1,25 |
| Saudi Arabia | 17,00 | 5,50 |
| Cape Verde | 55,00 | 7,70 |
The five group matches will be played in the USA – Atlanta, Miami Gardens and Houston. The only Uruguay v Spain match will be played in Sapopan, Mexico. See below for the full schedule (times in Lithuanian time, GMT+3 in summer).
| Matches | Date and time (LT) |
|---|---|
| Spain – Cape Verde | 15 June, 19:00 |
| Saudi Arabia – Uruguay | 16 June, 01:00 |
| Spain – Saudi Arabia | June 21, 19:00 |
| Uruguay – Cape Verde | June 21, 21:00 |
| Cape Verde – Saudi Arabia | 27 June, 03:00 |
| Uruguay – Spain | 27 June 03:00 |
Group H favourites and outsiders
There is a clear hierarchy in Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. It would not be a surprise if the teams finish in this order. The bookmakers offer odds of 2.62 for this final table.
Spain
Spain is undoubtedly the strongest team in the group. Expectations are high for this team as they enter the tournament as EURO 2024 champions. For Spain to be considered the undisputed favourite for the whole tournament, better form from key players is still needed. Lamine Yamal arrives recovering from an injury and Nico Williams is not in the best physical condition either.
Interestingly, for the first time in history, there is no Real Madrid player on the Spanish roster, but the team is still not short of talent. The EURO 2024 core has been maintained, with plenty of young talent and an attractive style of play. For a detailed analysis of the squad line-up, check out the Spain at the World Cup 2026 review.
Uruguay
Uruguay is one of the more interesting teams of the tournament. It will be difficult to fight for first place in the group, but at least second place is almost guaranteed. The team performed strongly in the qualifiers with wins against Argentina and Brazil.
The roster is full of high-level players including Federico Valverde, Darwin Nunez and Manuel Ugarte. Full official tournament details are available on FIFA's official 2026 tournament page.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia finished behind Australia and Japan in the World Cup qualifiers and had to secure their place in an extra qualifying round. The roster is small in terms of talent and consists of local league players.
The team's game is interesting because it likes to press high. Teams with less talent tend to sit in defence, but Saudi Arabia is not afraid to press their opponents. Not much is expected from the group, but a win against Cape Verde is a must.
Cape Verde
Cape Verde have done their job even before the World Cup started. Participating in the tournament for the first time in its history, the team arrives without extra pressure. In the qualifiers, the team won 7 out of 10 matches, ahead of second-placed Cameroon.
The roster is not full of talent – Logan Costa is the only player who plays for Villarreal. The team can be expected to work hard defensively and try to break through on the counter-attack.
Players to watch in Group H
Spanish talents are the most interesting in Group H. Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams clearly stand out, but Pedri, Gavi, Rodri and Fabian Ruiz will be just as interesting to watch. In defence, Spain will have Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella and Marcos Llorente.
Football-loving Uruguay come into the tournament with the strongest line-up. Among the players playing in Europe are Federico Valverde, Manuel Ugarte, Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez, Mathias Olivera, Darwin Nunez and Maximiliano Araujo.
In the Saudi Arabia squad, the veteran Salem Al-Dawsari stands out, as do Musab Al-Juwayr and Saud Abdulhamid.
The Cape Verdean side relies heavily on Dailon Livramento, Ryan Mendes, Logan Costa, Jamiro Monteiro and Vozinha.
Highlights of Group H
Group H has a solid hierarchy of teams and the schedule is also worthy of attention. Spain is unlikely to play the first game with its strongest line-up, as Lamine Yamal is still recovering from injury. However, the first match will be against Cape Verde, the second against Saudi Arabia and only the third against Uruguay.
This schedule will allow Spain to find its rhythm and probably secure a place in the next round at the same time.
There should be no big surprises in the group. Uruguay has the talent to take on Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde and secure second place – and on a good day, they can challenge Spain. Saudi Arabia's task is to beat Cape Verde and at least think about the Round of 32 from third place.
Looking at the betting odds, there is strong value in the selection of Cape Verde to score less than 1.5 points, with odds of 1.75 offered on this bet. Uruguay's second place bet offers odds of 1.70 and Saudi Arabia's third place bet 2.10. These are the selections offering the most value.
Betting Outlook
Spain's odds of winning the group are 1,21 – an outright win offers very little value. In unequal matches, especially against Cape Verde, the alternative is over under betting or Spain's individual goal total, which often offers better value.
For a full list of participants with all groups, please see the FIFA World Cup 2026 Participants article. When choosing a platform for the tournament, it is worth comparing the best online betting companies.
Responsible betting on the tournament
The World Cup lasts almost six weeks and matches are played almost every day. This rhythm increases the risk of chasing losses or betting just for fun. Practical advice is provided by the responsible gambling guide.
Group H FAQ
Which teams are in Group H
The teams in Group H are Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde.
Who are the favourites to win Group H
Spain. The bookmakers are offering odds of 1,21 for her to win the group. The national team is also one of the main contenders to win the whole tournament.
Which teams are predicted to qualify for the next round from Group H
Spain and Uruguay. Spain is the clear favourite in the group and Uruguay is considered the second strongest team. It would be a surprise if either of these teams did not reach the round of 32.
Which is the most important match of Group H
The last match of the group between Spain and Uruguay should be the most important one, as it should decide the first place. Spain v Uruguay will take place on 27 June at 03:00 Lithuanian time.
Which team could be the biggest surprise in Group H
Saudi Arabia. Although most of the attention in the group is focused on Spain and Uruguay, Saudi Arabia could surprise and at least pose a serious challenge to Uruguay in the fight for second place. A Saudi victory over Cape Verde would also put the Round of 32 in perspective from third position.
What makes Cape Verde's participation unique
Cape Verde will be playing in the World Cup for the first time in its history. It is one of the four debutants in the 2026 tournament, along with Curacao, Uzbekistan and Jordan.
Which cities will host Group H matches
Five matches will be played in the USA – Atlanta, Miami Gardens and Houston. The Uruguay vs Spain match will be played in Sapopan, Mexico.
Which bets have the best value in Group H
The bookmakers offer odds of 1.75 for Cape Verde to score less than 1.5 points, 1.70 for Uruguay to finish second and 2.10 for Saudi Arabia to finish third. These are the three Group H bets offering the most value.
