Spain vs Cape Verde Highlights 🌎🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup

Today the European champions hope it's the beginning of their path that leads to a World Cup title as we welcome the newest nation to reach the world stage. An 80 game unbeaten streak coming into this tournament. Unai Simon keeps his place in the net, that was the goalkeeper in 2024. Kubarci, 19 year old, starting in his first World Cup match but he plays at a pretty big club. You might know Barcelona, a lot of experience in this team. A Ballon d'Or winner and Rodri anchors that midfield number 16 flank by Pedri. And then probably the most underrated player in Clayton for Spain. And on the other side, Bubista is lining up with Caden Verde. We caught up with him at the draw, Alexey and I. We asked him, what do you expect from this tournament? He said, we will see, but we have already won by being here. We'll see if they can win today against one of the best teams in the world. A lot of players with some MLS experience in this. Steven Moreira from the Columbus crew at right back, MLS Cup winner with them. Montero in the midfield, number 10, over 150. Or as it comes to Llorente instead. Pedri trying to turn to the byline, gets a cross in. Vosinia was lost in space there. Pico Lopez saved a goal. His header in front of Arezabal. And now it's hooked immediately back in. Vosinia that time, good solid hands to take it. That was a great ball in and a great run from Pedri. These are the types of... Opportunity for them to give back to their parents and their grandparents who took that risk to find a better life somewhere else. Maintain links to culture. It's Pedri. Pedri through traffic right at Vosinia. He makes his first save of the game. That's a great run off the ball here. Asking for that pass back. Because it was the first time really the Cape Verde block separated. Because they'd all started to move up because they won the ball back. And then it turned over very quickly. Accepts the back heel. Also means there's space the other way. Sidney Lopez Cabral now. And then he miscontrols that. Shoves Llorente to the ground. And that will be a yellow card. And that was maybe revenge for the earlier collision. Did not want that space to be taken advantage of so... Five minutes and you're going to be defending one-on-one a lot. In a yellow card situation. That's the last thing you can afford in Cape Verde is get a guy sent off. Well, that is what happened to South Africa. They had that... They forced inside to Pedri. Back out to Kukurea. Was blocked back to Kukurea. Didn't miss by much. Kukurea, you see him get into the attack so often. And very capable player. Looking for that first touch. Balls is coming in there on the bench. Laminia Maldonico-Williams. Why? Their directness. Their one-v-one ability. Pedri clipping it in. Kukurea getting in behind to a dangerous area. It's hooked away. It's fired just off. Bosina makes the save. Offside flag comes up at the end of the play. It was Pedri's attempt that was saved. And the suggestion is it would not have counted anyway. He's looking to make this little diagonal run. And by the time the ball came, it was just a touch too late. Getting into a good spot. It's a great ball across. That was then really well dealt with by the defense. For Cape Verde to push it out. And then it gets more unbalanced. Played short, Yvonne. Cabral now. After the free kick. Cabral! Simone didn't seem terribly bothered. Fabien Ruiz for Rodri. Rodri, Kukurea. Backed over. Zinedine Zidane at home. And he's going to pay the price. It comes off the crossbar. The follow-up is saved. Wow. It's the same run from Kukurea. This time he is onside. So hard to defend because you don't want to drop too far as a fullback can open up space. Great header across. Goal again. Ferran Torres hits the crossbar. Can't stay over the first one. And then Oya Sabo. That ball's going in. He said he's already won by being here. This is a nation and a team that are playing free. To Kukurea. Back into the middle. Ferran Torres saved. Lozinha. Quick reaction down to his right. His first Torres of the Spaniards in the building thought it was a goal. Yeah. Challenge at the near post. Opens it up for Torres. We like to play these short and play the ball around. But when you're not creating a lot of chances, why not play direct? Rodri does just that. Header. A touch there from Lozinha. That might have been going wide from our angle of view. Off the head of Laporte. Good looking ball. They beat the first man. That's key. Not sure whether that came off the defender or it was Laporte. But either way, it might have been just wide. Instead for Gavi. It's going to come back out for Pedri. Pedri trying to drive to the byline. Pedri gets the cross in. Header flashing. It's going to stay in play. Ferran Torres lets it go for Llorente. It was horizontal. Had the touch. Comes backward now. Shot through traffic. Just misses that top corner. Well, one of the things I noticed there is they actually were lifted ahead for Cuperea. You heard Alex Algeo in her reporting yesterday echoing the reports from overseas. He's about to make a big move. Oh, it's going to come into the middle of Lozinha, who's right in the right place at the right time. That works when they come into this game. For the center forward, Livermento replaced by Nuno da Costa. Left winger, Jovan Cabral, replaced by Willy Samedo, who's coming off a career year at the age of 32. And then DeRoy Duarte replaces his older brother, Leroy, in midfield. And here comes the cavalry for Spain. Lamin Yamal. Would we see him or not? As he's been dealing with a hamstring injury since April 22nd. Global star that he is, is making now his World Cup debut. Just 18 years of age. He and Miquel Moreno are on. Gavi and Fabian Ruiz are on. Willy Samedo, 32-year-old. Wanted a veteran, among others. Yeah, as he gets the help. But that's the thing. Because of his ability on the ball, now you have to overcommit what they weren't doing before. They've got three players against him, and there's one done already. Inside for Llorente. Surveys the options right at Vocegna. That was Moreno, it looked like. Indeed it was. Sixth save for Vocegna. He doesn't lack confidence. His game in this sport is so wonderful. That was Joao Paulo. He's 28. He plays in Romania. Previously was playing in Moldova. That was Lamin Yamal, who was poked away from him initially. I was going to say, if that was the ball that went out, they would have flipped that. But another chance for a sub. Actually, Danny Olmo, as well, for Spain, is starting to get ready as well. From that bench, they're continuing to get other players over. Cape Verde making their final sub. Jamiro Montero, the former MLS player, replaced by Temar Oconjo. Kick number eight of the game for Spain. Lamin Yamal hooks it into the near post. Header away. That was Ran Mendez there. Back in by Kukure of Vocegna. Pumped his own teammate. Didn't get the ball. Scrambled wide. Oh, Izabal picks it up. Oh, Izabal lifts it into a great area. It's headed back across and out by Kevin Pina. But he, even the fact that he could have just let that run for a corner, but he wanted to play it because he felt he was in behind. Because there's a sub made for Antorrez. Off. And Danny Olmo on. He scored some big goals for Spain. Kukure. And that's a back and cross for Llorente. Lamin Yamal. Willy Cemeno. Early cross in. Moreno pops straight in the air. Vocegna stays at home. Kukure hits it right at Vocegna. He'll take an extra run. Second and a half there. Seventh save of the game. Well, this time Lamin Yamal recognizing early delivery can cause problems. Three players attacking it.