Spain vs Saudi Arabia, Belgium vs Iran, Uruguay vs Cape Verde | Head-to-Head, Lineups & Predictions | FIFA World Cup 2026

Spain vs Saudi Arabia

Uruguay vs Cape Verde in Group H

Belgium vs Iran in Group G. 

 

Spain vs Saudi Arabia | Group H Preview

Match Details

Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026

Kickoff Time: 12:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. BST / 9:30 p.m. IST

Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Spain Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3)

Unai Simón (GK)

Marcos Llorente (RB)

Pau Cubarsí (CB)

Aymeric Laporte (CB)

Marc Cucurella (LB)

Rodri (CDM)

Pedri (CM)

Fabián Ruiz (CM)

Lamine Yamal (RW)

Mikel Oyarzabal (ST)

Nico Williams (LW)

The big team news is the expected return of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams to the starting XI, after both came off the bench against Cape Verde.

Saudi Arabia Predicted Starting XI (4-4-2)

Mohammed Al Owais (GK)

Saud Abdulhamid (RB)

Abdulelah Al Amri (CB)

Hassan Al Tambakti (CB)

Moteb Al-Harbi (LB)

Mohammed Abu Al Shamat (RM)

Mohamed Kanno (CM)

Abdullah Alkhaibari (CM)

Musab Al-Juwayr (LM)

Salem Al-Dawsari (ST)

Firas Al-Buraikan (ST)

Saudi Arabia are likely to sit in a low block, much like Cape Verde did against Spain, and look to hurt the Spanish on the counter through Salem Al-Dawsari's pace and movement.

Spain vs Saudi Arabia Head-to-Head

The two nations have met three times previously, and Spain have won every single meeting, outscoring Saudi Arabia 9-2 on aggregate across those encounters. History strongly favors La Roja heading into this clash, though Saudi Arabia will take heart from their resilient point against Uruguay.

Prediction

Spain's underlying numbers against Cape Verde  27 shots, 74% possession, seven shots on target suggest the goals are coming, and the restored pace of Yamal and Williams can make a difference against Saudi Arabia. 

Prediction: Spain 3-1 Saudi Arabia.

 

Belgium vs Iran | Group G Preview

Match Details

Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026

Kickoff Time: 3:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. BST / 12:30 a.m. IST (June 22)

Venue: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California

Group G is wide open heading into matchday two, with all four teams level on a single point. Belgium were held 1-1 by Egypt in their opener, rescued only by a Romelu Lukaku-induced own goal off the bench, while Iran twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in an entertaining encounter.

Belgium Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1)

Thibaut Courtois (GK)

Thomas Meunier (RB)

Nathan Ngoy (CB)

Brandon Mechele (CB)

Timothy Castagne (LB)

Amadou Onana (CDM)

Youri Tielemans (CDM)

Leandro Trossard (RW)

Kevin De Bruyne (CAM)

Jérémy Doku (LW)

Charles De Ketelaere (ST)

Veteran captain Kevin De Bruyne continues to pull the strings in midfield, while Charles De Ketelaere is expected to keep his place as the central striker ahead of Romelu Lukaku, who is likely to be used again as an impact substitute.

Iran Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3)

 

Alireza Beiranvand (GK)

Ramin Rezaeian (RB)

Shoja Khalilzadeh (CB)

Ali Nemati (CB)

Milad Mohammadi (LB)

Mohammad Mohebi (CM)

Saman Ghoddos (CM)

Saeid Ezatolahi (CM)

Aria Yousefi (RW)

Shahriar Moghanlou (LW)

Mehdi Taremi (ST)

Mehdi Taremi leads the line as Iran's most dangerous attacking outlet, while right-back Ramin Rezaeian, who was outstanding against New Zealand, will look to give Belgium's left flank problems again.

Belgium vs Iran Head-to-Head

This will be the first-ever senior meeting between Belgium and Iran, meaning there is no head-to-head history to draw on. More broadly, Iran have won just three of 19 World Cup matches all-time and have lost seven of their last ten games against European opposition, while Belgium remain unbeaten in their last 14 matches overall.

Prediction

Belgium have far greater individual quality across the pitch, and with De Bruyne expected to dictate play against an Iranian defense that conceded twice to New Zealand, the Red Devils should have enough to find a way through. Iran's resilience and counterattacking threat through Taremi make a clean sheet unlikely for Belgium, though. 

Prediction: Belgium 2-1 Iran.

 

Uruguay vs Cape Verde | Group H Preview

Match Details

Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026

Kickoff Time: 5:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 p.m. BST / 3:30 a.m. IST (June 22)

Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

 

Uruguay drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia in their opening match, despite registering 27 shots. Cape Verde, meanwhile Spain to a goalless draw on their World Cup debut.

Uruguay Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3)

Marcelo Bielsa is expected to field:

Fernando Muslera (GK)

Guillermo Varela (RB)

Sebastián Cáceres (CB)

Mathías Olivera (CB)

Juan Sanabria (LB)

Federico Valverde (CM)

Manuel Ugarte (CDM)

Rodrigo Bentancur (CM)

Maxi Araújo (RW)

Darwin Nunez (ST)

Agustín Canobbio (LW)

Uruguay are missing two key players, with Ronald Araújo (calf) and Giorgian de Arrascaeta (calf) both unavailable. Darwin Nunez, who was substituted at half-time against Saudi Arabia, is expected to keep his place up front.

Cape Verde Predicted Starting XI (4-1-4-1)

Vozinha (GK)

Steven Moreira (RB)

Roberto Lopes (CB)

Diney Borges (CB)

Sidny Cabral (LB)

Kevin Pina (CDM)

Ryan Mendes (RM)

Laros Duarte (CM)

Jamiro Monteiro (CM)

Jovane Cabral (LM)

Dailon Livramento (ST)

Kevin Pina is the key holding presence shielding the back four, while Jovane Cabral and Jamiro Monteiro support lone striker Dailon Livramento as Cape Verde search for their first-ever World Cup goal.

Uruguay vs Cape Verde Head-to-Head

These two nations have never met before at any level, making this an entirely blank head-to-head record. Uruguay's pedigree as two-time World Cup champions makes them strong favorites on paper, but Cape Verde's defensive discipline, seven clean sheets in their last 11 qualifiers, gives them a genuine chance of frustrating their illustrious opponents again.

Prediction

Uruguay should have enough quality to break down Cape Verde's low block eventually, particularly with Valverde and Bentancur driving forward from midfield, but the absences of Ronald Araújo and De Arrascaeta blunt them at both ends. Cape Verde's defensive sturdiness, just shown against Spain, suggests this won't be straightforward. 

Prediction: Uruguay 2-1 Cape Verde.

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Writer Name: Mirza Ali