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With less than a week until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, anticipation is rising worldwide – and Group H is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing pools in the tournament.
Spain arrive as one of the leading contenders, while Cape Verde are set to make history by appearing at the World Cup for the first time. Saudi Arabia return with confidence after their stunning run in 2022, and Uruguay look a dangerous outsider given the depth of talent in their squad.
All eyes will be on teenage star Lamine Yamal as he prepares for his World Cup debut. Still only 17, he played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, and alongside Pedri and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, will aim to help deliver Spain’s second men’s world title.
For Cape Verde, the tournament represents a landmark moment. Guided by a coach who helped build the national set-up from the ground up, they will be determined to show they can compete on the biggest stage.
Saudi Arabia also have momentum to draw on after shocking Argentina in 2022. With the Saudi Pro League bringing in elite names from across world football, the Green Falcons will be eager to make their own mark at this World Cup.
Uruguay complete the group with a proud history and a new era. With Luis Suárez – the country’s all-time leading scorer – now retired, Federico Valverde is expected to spearhead La Celeste as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 2022 campaign.
As in every group, the top two teams will progress automatically to the Round of 32 in the expanded 48-team tournament.
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Odds to win group: 1/5 ( Betfred )
Odds to qualify: 1/100 ( William Hill )
Odds to not qualify: 50/1 ( Sky Bet )
Odds to finish bottom: 150/1 ( Paddy Power )
Squad: Unai Simón (Athletic Club), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan García (Barcelona); Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club), Álex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur), Eric García (Barcelona), Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid), Marc Pubill (Atlético Madrid); Gavi (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Martín Zubimendi (Arsenal), Fabián Ruiz (PSG), Álex Baena (Atlético Madrid), Mikel Merino (Arsenal); Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Club), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Yéremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo), Víctor Muñoz (Osasuna)
View 3 ImagesLAS ROZAS, SPAIN – MARCH 20: Luis de la Fuente, head coach of the Spanish national team, attends the press conference to announce his squad list for Spain Team at the Ciudad del Futbol on March 19, 2026, in Sevilla, Spain. (Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Odds to win group: 50/1 ( Betfred )
Odds to qualify: 13/8 ( William Hill )
Odds to not qualify: 1/4 ( Sky Bet )
Odds to finish bottom: 8/13 ( Paddy Power )
Squad: Vozinha (Chaves), Marcio Rosa (Montana), CJ dos Santos (San Diego FC); Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Wagner Pina (Trabzonspor), Joao Paulo (FCSB), Sidny Lopes Cabral (Benfica), Logan Costa (Villarreal), Pico (Shamrock Rovers), Kelvin Pires (SJK), Stopira (Torreense), Diney (Al Bataeh); Jamiro Monteiro (PEC Zwolle), Telmo Arcanjo (Vitoria Guimaraes), Yannick Semedo (Farense), Laros Duarte (Puskas Akademia), Deroy Duarte (Ludogorets Razgrad), Kevin Pina (Krasnodar); Ryan Mendes (Igdir), Willy Semedo (Omonia), Garry Rodrigues (Apollon Limassol), Jovane Cabral (Estrela Amadora), Nuno da Costa (Istanbul Basaksehir), Dailon Livramento (Casa Pia), Gilson Benchimol (Akron Tolyatti), Helio Varela (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
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Saudi Arabia went out in the group stage in 2022, but their stunning 2-1 comeback win over Argentina remains one of the tournament’s defining moments.
The Green Falcons booked their place at the 2026 World Cup with a goalless draw against Iraq in mid-October, and their defensive record was impressive in the closing stages of qualifying, conceding only four times across their final six matches.
Georgios Donis replaced Hervé Renard as head coach in April and suffered a 2-1 defeat to Ecuador in his first game on May 31, a result that stretched Saudi Arabia’s losing run to four. However, a 3-0 win over Puerto Rico on June 6 has offered a timely boost heading into the finals.
Odds to win group: 25/1 ( Betfred )
Odds to qualify: 11/8 ( William Hill )
Odds to not qualify: 8/15 ( Sky Bet )
Odds to finish bottom: 11/10 ( Paddy Power )
Squad: Mohammed Al Owais (Al Ula), Nawaf Al Aqidi (Al Nassr), Ahmed Al Kassar (Al Qadsiah); Abdulelah Al Amri (Al Nassr), Hassan Tambakti (Al Hilal), Jehad Thikri (Al Qadsiah), Ali Lajami (Al Hilal), Hassan Kadesh (Al Ittihad), Saud Abdulhamid (Lens), Mohammed Abu Al Shamat (Al Qadsiah), Ali Majrashi (Al Ahli), Moteb Al Harbi (Al Hilal), Nawaf Boushal (Al Nassr), Sultan Al-Ghannam (Al Nassr); Mohammed Kanno (Al Hilal), Abdullah Al Khaibari (Al Nassr), Ziyad Al Johani (Al Ahli), Nasser Al Dawsari (Al Hilal), Musab Al Juwayr (Al Qadsiah), Alaa Al Hajji (Neom), Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal), Khalid Al Ghannam (Al Ettifaq), Ayman Yahya (Al Nassr); Firas Al Buraikan (Al Ahli), Saleh Al Shehri (Al Ittihad), Abdullah Al Hamdan (Al Nassr)
View 3 ImagesUruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa in familiar pose during the 1-1 draw with England at Wembley in March(Image: Getty Images)
Two-time champions Uruguay will be determined to put their disappointing group-stage exit in 2022 behind them this summer, although they will have to do it without all-time leading scorer Luis Suárez.
La Celeste secured their place at the 2026 World Cup by finishing fourth in South America’s qualifying standings, ending their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Chile on September 10.
However, Marcelo Bielsa’s side arrive short of momentum, winless in their last four matches with three draws and one defeat — a shock 5-1 loss to the USA in November that also saw Rodrigo Bentancur sent off.
Odds to win group: 7/2 ( Betfred )
Odds to qualify: 1/7 ( William Hill )
Odds to not qualify: 6/1 ( Sky Bet )
Odds to finish bottom: 12/1 ( Paddy Power )
Squad: Fernando Muslera (Estudiantes de La Plata), Sergio Rochet (Internacional de Porto Alegre), Santiago Mele (Monterrey); Ronald Araújo (Barcelona), José María Giménez (Atlético Madrid), Santiago Bueno (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Sebastián Cáceres (América), Mathías Olivera (Napoli), Guillermo Varela (Flamengo), Matías Viña (River Plate), Joaquín Piquerez (Palmeiras), Juan Manuel Sanabria (Real Salt Lake); Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur), Manuel Ugarte (Manchester United), Emiliano Martínez (Palmeiras), Rodrigo Zalazar (Sporting CP), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Flamengo), Nicolás De La Cruz (Flamengo), Agustín Canobbio (Fluminense), Maximiliano Araújo (Sporting CP), Brian Rodríguez (América), Facundo Pellistri (Panathinaikos); Darwin Núñez (Al Hilal), Federico Viñas (Real Oviedo), Rodrigo Aguirre (Tigres)
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