Barcelona World Cup spotlight: Ferran & co. struggle for Spain against Cape Verde | OneFootball

After two consecutive days of a single Barcelona player featuring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, last night was different.

With Spain in action against Cape Verde, a whole host of Barça players represented the club at the marquee tournament, albeit on a night that was not very memorable for La Roja.

Spain kick-started proceedings on the night, struggling to break down a resolute Cape Verde side and eventually seeing the game end in a 0-0 draw.

From a Barça perspective, Ferran Torres, Gavi, Pedri and Pau Cubarsi started for Spain, while Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo made substitute appearances.

That was not the only game that saw a Barcelona player feature, though, with teenager Hamza Abdelkarim coming on for his World Cup debut with Egypt against Belgium.

The players who did not feature last night included Joan Garcia, who is the third-choice goalkeeper for La Roja, Eric Garcia and Uruguay’s Ronald Araujo, who is out injured.

Here is how the Barça boys fared on the night.

Pedri (Spain vs Cape Verde)

For Spain, the result was a frustration. They dominated the ball, had 75 percent possession and 27 attempts, but still failed to beat a disciplined Cape Verde side and an inspired Vozinha.

Pedri was the standout of the Barcelona contingent. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Pedri was the clear Barcelona standout. He made five key passes, created one big chance, recorded 1.23 expected assists and completed 86 of his 98 passes. It was a proper controller’s performance, even if Spain’s forwards wasted the platform he built.

The Canary Islander took more and more ownership as the game went on and had a second half to remember personally, but it all resulted in no end product.

Ferran Torres (Spain vs Cape Verde)

Ferran had the opposite kind of night. He played 81 minutes, took four shots, produced 0.89 xG, missed one big chance and hit the woodwork. The movement was there, but the finish was not.

Profiling him as a right-sided touchline winger did not do his cause any favours, and Luis de la Fuente needs to start looking at how best to use him in Lamine’s absence.

Gavi (Spain vs Cape Verde)

Gavi worked hard in a more advanced role before being replaced by Lamine in the 71st minute. His energy gave Spain pressure and aggression, but his overall performance was a letdown.

The game also showed that he is not naturally the kind of winger who can break a deep block on his own.

Pau Cubarsi (Spain vs Cape Verde)

Cubarsi had the quietest night of the starters, which is not a bad thing for a centre-back. Spain gave up little, and the teenager again looked comfortable in a match where most of his work came through positioning and circulation rather than last-ditch defending.

Lamine Yamal (Spain vs Cape Verde)

Lamine could not inspire Spain to a win. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

The stadium was bouncing when Lamine Yamal was brought on for the final 20 minutes of the game, and he was expected to be Spain’s saviour.

The ball found him like a magnet in the few minutes he spent on the pitch, and although he managed to speed up proceedings for Spain, he was unable to produce his usual magic.

Dani Olmo (Spain vs Cape Verde)

Olmo was introduced to change the rhythm, but he had neither enough time nor space to turn the game fully.

It was baffling to see Luis de la Fuente wait as long as he did to introduce the Barça playmaker in a game that was crying out for a deep-block breaker.

Hamza Abdelkarim (Egypt vs Belgium)

Hamza’s cameo for Egypt was a smaller moment, but an important one. He came on for Mohamed Salah in the 76th minute.

World Cup debut for Hamza. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

It was a composed debut for an 18-year-old Barcelona U19 forward on the biggest stage. A willing runner and a box presence, he has attributes that could benefit Flick’s team in the coming season and beyond.

Overall, this was a mixed Barcelona day: Pedri shone, Ferran suffered, Lamine pushed for more minutes and Hamza took his first World Cup step. Not perfect, but full of Barça storylines.