Expanded World Cup Debuts
World Cup 2026 Opens with 48-Team Debut, Featuring Spain and New Nations
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Key Points
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Spain enters the group-stage opener as an elite betting/talent favorite: the Opta “supercomputer” has them among the title favorites heading into the tournament.
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Spain’s buildup includes a specific achievement target: coach Luis de la Fuente is aiming to win a World Cup immediately after winning the European Championship—an outcome not accomplished since 2012—after Spain topped their qualifying group as an undefeated side (five wins, one draw).
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Belgium’s squad situation is partly defined by player end-points: goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne have said this World Cup will be their last performances for Belgium.
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Cape Verde’s debut is being framed with notable preparation: under coach Bubista, the team sent “encouraging signals” in friendlies by beating Serbia and Bermuda—and they also enter as one of the smallest-population countries in the tournament (about 525,000 people).
The 2026 FIFA World Cup's group stage kicks into high gear on June 15, with Spain facing debut nation Cape Verde at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Spain enters as one of the tournament's top favorites, with Opta Analyst giving them a 14.2% chance of lifting the trophy — second only to Brazil's 15.1%. The match is part of a massive day of football that also features Belgium vs. Egypt and Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay.
The tournament itself is already historic. For the first time, 48 teams are competing at a World Cup, up from 32 in 2022. That expansion has brought first-time appearances from Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, Curaçao, and Jordan, according to Crypto Briefing. FIFA projects the expanded 104-game tournament will generate $11 billion in revenue — a $4 billion jump from the previous cycle.
Spain Chases a Rare Double After Euro Glory
Spain arrives in Atlanta as European champions and World Cup contenders. Coach Luis de la Fuente guided Spain through qualifying unbeaten — five wins and one draw, scoring 16 goals and conceding just three. Now he wants more. No team has won the European Championship and then the World Cup back-to-back since Spain itself did it in 2010 and 2012, according to Opta Analyst. De la Fuente said his squad sees that standard as motivation, not pressure.
The one cloud over Spain's opener is the fitness of 18-year-old star Lamine Yamal. A hamstring twinge during training in Atlanta has put his starting spot in doubt. He is expected to begin on the bench as a precaution, according to AS. Spain can still field a formidable lineup, but Yamal is the player opponents most fear.
Cape Verde Arrives as a 525,000-Person Underdog
Cape Verde is one of the smallest nations ever to reach a World Cup. The island nation has a population of roughly 525,000 people — about the size of Atlanta's city proper. Coach Bubista has built belief through results: the team beat Serbia 2-1 and crushed Bermuda 4-0 in recent friendlies. "The world looks at our population of 500,000 and thinks we are just here for the photo," Bubista said, according to The Guardian. "We beat Serbia in March to show we are here to compete."
Back home, the match is a national event. The Cape Verde government declared a half-day holiday for the Spain game, framing it as the most significant moment in the country's history since independence, according to BBC Africa. Value The Markets notes that Cape Verde's debut is part of a broader wave of new football nations getting their first shot at the biggest stage.
Belgium's Golden Generation Makes Its Last Stand
Belgium faces Egypt at Lumen Field in Seattle in the day's other marquee Group G match. For goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and captain Kevin De Bruyne, this is the end of the road. Both players have confirmed this World Cup will be their final tournament for Belgium, according to HLN Sports. The stakes are personal as well as competitive. Belgium has a FIFA ranking of 4th in the world but a recent record that does not match it.
Belgium crashed out in the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar — a humiliation for a squad packed with world-class talent. Coach Domenico Tedesco has since blended veterans like De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku with younger stars such as Johan Bakayoko and Jérémy Doku, according to Sky Sports News. A loss to Egypt on day one would instantly revive fears of another early exit.
48 Teams: More Nations, More Debate
The expanded format has split opinion. European outlets like L'Équipe have called the group stage "interminable" and argued matches like Spain vs. Cape Verde belong in qualifying, not a finals. FIFPRO, the global players' union, warned in May 2026 that 104 matches spread across three time zones puts dangerous strain on athletes — pointing directly to cases like Yamal's hamstring. Critics say revenue is being prioritized over player welfare.
But FIFA and broadcasters in Africa and Asia see it differently. Uzbekistan drew their opening match against Cameroon. Jordan competed before falling to South Korea late on. Crypto Briefing reports that these nations are bringing tens of millions of new viewers to the tournament. The debate over quality versus inclusion will play out across all 104 games — starting today in Atlanta and Seattle.
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