Group H is underway at the 2026 World Cup, and it has already produced one of the most shocking results in the history of the tournament, after Cape Verde held Spain to a 0-0 draw.
The Cape Verdeans then proved that that result was no fluke against Uruguay, as they went punch-for-punch in a 2-2 draw.
Ahead of the final round of Group H matches, check out the latest odds and our predictions below.
Which teams are in Group H of the 2026 World Cup?
Spain
Current FIFA ranking: 2
Spain are considered the favourites to not only win Group H but also the entire tournament. La Roja qualified with five wins in six qualifying matches, though the final 2-2 draw with Turkey should be disregarded since Spain had already secured qualification.
They started the World Cup with a disappointing draw against Cape Verde, but were back to their usual selves against Saudi Arabia.
Manager and tactics
Many people had doubts about Luis de la Fuente as Luis Enrique’s successor, but he led Spain to the European Championships in 2024, and the team has not lost its form since then, Cape Verde aside.
The current La Roja’s preferred formation is 4-2-3-1, with their play centred on ball control, constant pressing, and fast attacks. The presence of several of football’s biggest stars is a major advantage, as most players on the squad are capable of deciding a match single-handedly.
Cape Verde
Current FIFA ranking: 69
Expectations for Cape Verde were minimal before they drew with Spain, but they now have a good chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Even in the qualifying phase, no one expected Cape Verde to win their group, but they did so with just one loss in 10 matches, leaving favourites Cameroon in second place.
Manager and tactics
Pedro Leitao Brito, more widely known as simply Bubista, is a new name to the majority of the football world, as he has never coached outside Cape Verde. But he has now been named CAF’s 2025 Coach of the Year, after the team qualified for the World Cup.
Under his guidance, Cape Verde typically play in a 4-2-3-1 system, but we’ve seen them switch to 4-3-3 when needed. They showed how strong defensively they can be against Spain before showing how explosive they can be in attacking areas against Uruguay.
Saudi Arabia
Current FIFA ranking: 61
This is Saudi Arabia’s seventh World Cup appearance, although the nation haven't had many reasons to celebrate since reaching the round of 16 in 1994. But most fans certainly remember when they beat Argentina in the opening round of the 2022 World Cup.
Saudi Arabia’s qualifications didn’t show much promise, as the team had to fight until the fourth round to secure its place. Their chances of getting out of the group come down to their final match against Cape Verde.
Manager and tactics
Georgios Donis is the third manager in this group who will make his managerial debut at the World Cup, and he got the job just 59 days before the start of the competition.
The draw with Uruguay was his first competitive match in charge, and he set them up initially as a compact 4-4-2. As their confidence grew in the match, they came out of this shape more, something we should see more of against Cape Verde.
Uruguay
Current FIFA ranking: 17
Uruguay came into the tournament under a bit of a cloud following Luis Suarez's fallout with Marcelo Bielsa. The veteran striker will play no part in North America, but there are still plenty of recognisable names in the squad, including Fede Valverde and Darwin Nunez.
It has been a disastrous tournament for Bielsa's men so far, with back-to-back draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde.
Manager and tactics
Marcelo Bielsa is famed for his high-pressing front-foot approach, but that has been nowhere to be seen so far this summer. Can they pull a rabbit out of the hat against Spain to qualify?
2026 World Cup Group H group winners and qualification predictions
Group H winner odds
- Spain (1/10)
- Uruguay (6/1)
- Cape Verde (25/1)
Group H qualification odds
- Spain (1/1000)
- Cape Verde (4/9)
- Uruguay (6/4)
- Saudi Arabia (7/4)
2026 World Cup Group H fixtures and odds
Matchday 3
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia
- Cape Verde (27/20)
- Draw (5/2)
- Saudi Arabia (9/5)
Uruguay vs Spain
- Uruguay (4/1)
- Draw (3/1)
- Spain (3/5)
Note: All above odds were correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Spain should win the group from here, but it is Cape Verde who are most likely to through as runners-up. Uruguay still have a fighting chance, but they will need to improve tenfold if they are to defeat Spain.
It’s worth checking out the odds again before the World Cup kicks off, as there are many interesting markets. You can check out the best World Cup betting apps through our specialised guide.
Predicted finishing order
- Spain
- Cape Verde
- Uruguay
- Saudi Arabia
Vladislav has been professionally engaged in freelance journalism for seven years and has worked with numerous leading sports publications. A football and martial arts fanatic, he spent years training in both disciplines before turning to writing.
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