Spain
The seeded favourites. Luis de la Fuente's reigning European champions blend Lamine Yamal, Pedri and captain Rodri and are among the favourites to win the whole tournament. Read our full Spain squad guide.
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Group Guide · 2026 World Cup
World Cup 2026 Group H
Group H is led by Spain and completed by two-time world champions Uruguay, Asia's Saudi Arabia and tournament debutants Cape Verde. Luis de la Fuente's reigning European champions arrive with Lamine Yamal, Pedri and captain Rodri among the favourites for the whole tournament. Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay carry Federico Valverde and Darwin Nunez, Saudi Arabia bring 2022 giant-killing memories, and Cape Verde reach the World Cup for the first time in their history. This group is split between the United States and Mexico, with games in Atlanta, Miami, Houston and Guadalajara. This is the full fixture list with venues and dates, the qualification picture, and a prediction for who reaches the new Round of 32.
H
Group
4
Teams
15 Jun
Spain vs Cape Verde
2
Qualify (Plus Best Thirds)
The short version. Group H is Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. It opens with Spain vs Cape Verde at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on 15 June, with games spread across Atlanta, Miami, Houston and Guadalajara in Mexico, where Spain finish against Uruguay. Spain are strong favourites to win the group, with Uruguay the likeliest second, and the top two go through automatically alongside the best third-placed teams across the 12 groups.
The Four Teams
Who is in Group H
A European champion among the tournament favourites, a Bielsa-led Uruguay with real quality, the Green Falcons of Saudi Arabia and a historic debutant from the Atlantic. Here is the Group H field.
Uruguay
The two-time world champions. Under Marcelo Bielsa, Uruguay pair Federico Valverde and Darwin Nunez with hard-nosed defending and arrive as the most likely team to join Spain in the knockouts. Read our Uruguay guide.
Saudi Arabia
The 2022 giant-killers. The side that beat eventual champions Argentina in Qatar are back from Asia, now coached by Georgios Donis. Organised and dangerous on their day, they will target Cape Verde and hope for another upset. Read our Saudi Arabia guide.
Cape Verde
The historic debutants. Coached by Bubista, an Atlantic archipelago of around 525,000 people reach their first ever World Cup, one of the smallest nations to qualify. Spirited and well-drilled, they aim to make history. Read our Cape Verde guide.
The Fixtures
Group H fixtures, venues and dates
Six Group H matches across three matchdays, split between the United States and Mexico. Spain play their first two games in Atlanta before crossing to Guadalajara, the Saudi Arabia and Uruguay openers are in Miami, and the final round sends games to Guadalajara and Houston. The two final-round games kick off at the same time. Times below are US Eastern.
Matchday 1 · 15 June
Spain vs Cape Verde
Mon 15 Jun 2026
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay
Mon 15 Jun 2026
Matchday 2 · 21 June
Spain vs Saudi Arabia
Sun 21 Jun 2026
Uruguay vs Cape Verde
Sun 21 Jun 2026
Matchday 3 · 26 June · Simultaneous kickoff
Uruguay vs Spain
Fri 26 Jun 2026
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia
Fri 26 Jun 2026
For the full picture of all 104 games and kickoff times in your own time zone, use the WorldCuply.com match schedule. Spain's path is covered in detail in our Spain squad guide.
The Format
How qualification works in Group H
The 2026 World Cup is the first with 48 teams in 12 groups of four. That changes how a group plays out:
- Top two go through. The winner and runner-up of Group H qualify automatically for the new Round of 32, the extra knockout round added for 2026.
- Best thirds matter. The eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups also advance. That means a strong third place in Group H, with points and goal difference, can still be enough.
- Spain set the standard. As the seeded European champions, Spain will expect to win the group, leaving Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde to fight over second and a best-third place.
- The final round is decisive. The matchday-three games kick off simultaneously to keep things fair, so Uruguay vs Spain in Guadalajara and Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia in Houston will be settled side by side.
The Prediction
Who advances from Group H
A group with one tournament favourite and a genuine contest for second. Here is how we see it:
- 1st: Spain. The deepest and most talented squad in the group. If they stay fit, the European champions should win Group H and target a long run.
- 2nd: Uruguay. Bielsa's side have the quality and the streetwise edge to take second, with Valverde and Nunez able to decide tight games.
- 3rd: Cape Verde. The debutants are well-organised and could pinch a result, putting them in the mix for a best-third place against Saudi Arabia.
- 4th: Saudi Arabia. Capable of an upset on their day, but they face the toughest task to climb out of a group with two strong sides above them.
Spain are the standout, but the race for second and a best-third place could go to the final matchday. Follow it live with the schedule and the Match-Day Notifier.
Questions & Answers
Frequently asked questions
Which teams are in Group H at the 2026 World Cup?
Group H at the 2026 World Cup contains Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. Spain were the seeded side in Group H after the December 2025 draw, joined by two-time world champions Uruguay, Asia's Saudi Arabia and debutants Cape Verde, who reach the World Cup for the first time in their history.
When does Group H start at the 2026 World Cup?
Group H begins on Monday 15 June 2026 with Spain against Cape Verde at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, kicking off at noon local time. Saudi Arabia face Uruguay later the same day at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Where are the Group H matches played?
Group H is played across both the United States and Mexico. The venues are Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, NRG Stadium in Houston and Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, where Spain close their group stage against Uruguay.
What are the full Group H fixtures?
Matchday one: Spain vs Cape Verde (15 June, Atlanta) and Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay (15 June, Miami Gardens). Matchday two: Spain vs Saudi Arabia (21 June, Atlanta) and Uruguay vs Cape Verde (21 June, Miami Gardens). Matchday three: Uruguay vs Spain (26 June, Guadalajara) and Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia (26 June, Houston).
Who is the favourite to win Group H?
Spain are clear favourites to win Group H. Luis de la Fuente's reigning European champions blend Lamine Yamal, Pedri and captain Rodri and are among the favourites for the whole tournament. Uruguay, under Marcelo Bielsa, are the strongest challenger for second place.
How many teams advance from Group H?
The top two teams in Group H advance to the Round of 32 automatically. Because the 2026 World Cup has 48 teams in 12 groups, the eight best third-placed teams across all groups also qualify, so a strong third place can still be enough to go through.
How strong is Uruguay in Group H?
Uruguay are a serious side and the most likely team to join Spain in the knockout rounds. Under Marcelo Bielsa they carry Federico Valverde and Darwin Nunez and have the pedigree of two World Cup titles, even if they are distant. They start as favourites for second place.
Can Cape Verde advance from Group H?
Cape Verde are at the World Cup for the first time, one of the smallest nations ever to qualify with a population of around 525,000. Coached by Bubista, the Blue Sharks are organised and spirited and will fancy upsetting Saudi Arabia, but reaching the knockout rounds would be a historic achievement.
How is Saudi Arabia shaping up in Group H?
Saudi Arabia, the Green Falcons who famously beat eventual champions Argentina in 2022, qualified again from Asia and are now coached by Georgios Donis after Herve Renard's departure. They will target points against Cape Verde and hope to spring another surprise against the seeded sides.
Who will qualify from Group H?
Our prediction is that Spain win Group H, with Uruguay taking second on the strength of their squad and Bielsa's coaching. Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia are expected to fight for third and a possible best-third place, with the debutants chasing a piece of history.
Keep Reading
More 2026 World Cup coverage
Group H is one of 12 groups at the 2026 World Cup. Explore the rest of the WorldCuply.com guide:
Spain Squad
Luis de la Fuente's European champions, Lamine Yamal and Pedri, and the case for a first world title since 2010.
Read the Spain guide ›Uruguay Squad
Marcelo Bielsa's Celeste, Valverde and Nunez, and the dark-horse credentials in Group H.
Read the Uruguay guide ›Group G
Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand, with the full Group G fixtures, venues and prediction.
Read the Group G guide ›Match Schedule
All 104 fixtures across 16 host cities, with kickoff times you can filter to your team and time zone.
Open the schedule ›Sources
Where this page comes from
This guide was hand-written from the following reporting and reference pages, used to confirm the Group H teams, fixtures, venues and dates:
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