FIFA World Cup 26™: What to look out for in Cabo Verde v Saudi Arabia 🇨🇻🇸🇦 | OneFootball

FIFA World Cup 26™: What to look out for in Cabo Verde v Saudi Arabia 🇨🇻🇸🇦 | OneFootball

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Alex Mott·26 June 2026

FIFA World Cup 26™: What to look out for in Cabo Verde v Saudi Arabia 🇨🇻🇸🇦

Article image:FIFA World Cup 26™: What to look out for in Cabo Verde v Saudi Arabia 🇨🇻🇸🇦

Houston Stadium plays host to a fascinating FIFA World Cup 26™ showdown on Friday as Cabo Verde take on Saudi Arabia.

Here is everything you need to look out for in the Group H encounter.


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Who is playing today? 👀

Both nations head into their final FIFA World Cup 26™ group-stage fixture still searching for their first victory of the tournament.

Cabo Verde have been one of the surprise stories of Group H despite sitting on two points. Bubista's side opened their campaign with a superb 0-0 draw against Spain before producing another impressive display in a 2-2 draw with Uruguay. Having already matched two traditional football powers, the Blue Sharks will believe a historic first FIFA World Cup™ victory is within reach.

Saudi Arabia also began brightly with a hard-earned 1-1 draw against Uruguay but were brought crashing back to earth by a 4-0 defeat to Spain on Matchday two. 

Players to watch 🔥

Article image:FIFA World Cup 26™: What to look out for in Cabo Verde v Saudi Arabia 🇨🇻🇸🇦

For Cabo Verde, Kevin Pina continues to impress at the base of their midfield with the 27-year-old getting an Attacking Score of 7.3 against Uruguay in the FIFA Power Rankings - powered by Aramco.

Diney Borges is another in the backline who has looked excellent in the two matches so far, getting a Defending Score of 6.9 against Spain.

For Saudi Arabia, Salem Al-Dawsari remains the player most capable of producing a moment of magic. The captain received a Creativity Score of 7.1 against Uruguay.

Defensively, Abdulelah Al-Amri has enjoyed a solid World Cup™ but conversely received an Attacking Score of 7.8 against Uruguay.

Must-watch video 🎥

Quite possibly the greatest video from this, or any, World Cup™.

Fun facts 📊

  • This will be the first ever game between these two countries.
  • Saudi Arabia have lost only one of their five World Cup™ matches against African opposition - a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in 2002.
  • Having won two of their first three World Cup™ games back in 1994, Saudi Arabia have now won just two of their subsequent 18 matches in the competition.

Our prediction 🔮

Cabo Verde 2-1 Saudi Arabia

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