Cape Verde makes World Cup debut against Spain in Group H opener
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 15, 2026, 4:23 PM
Last updated Jun 15, 2026
Cape Verde faces Spain in its opening match of Group H at the FIFA World Cup on June 15, 2026. The match marks the debut for the archipelago nation, which has a population of around half a million. Cape Verde, ranked 64th by FIFA, comes into the tournament after winning two recent friendlies, including a victory over Serbia. Ryan Mendes, the team's all-time leader in goals and caps, is set to play a key role.
- •Cape Verde's population is about 500,000 residents.
- •The archipelago is located 400 miles off the coast of Senegal.
- •Ryan Mendes has 98 caps and 22 goals for Cape Verde.
- •Cape Verde won its last two friendlies against Finland and Serbia.
- •Spain is ranked among the top three teams globally.
- 4:23 PMYahoo Sports — Where is Cape Verde located?
"The archipelago of roughly half a million residents is making its World Cup debut.
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