World Cup guide: everything you need to know about Group H | OneFootball

The World Cup is just hours away! With the countdown edging ever close, Playmaker is stepping up to present the 48 participating national teams across 12 articles - one for each group in the competition. Find out more about each nation, including their probable line-up and some of the main names to watch...

Group H at the 2026 World Cup features Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay – in other words, two former winners of the competition, one country on the rise on the global stage, and one debutant carrying a nation’s dream beyond its borders.

As the current European champions, La Roja go into this group as clear favourites but it promises to be lively and full of drama until the final matchday. Meanwhile, the South American side coached by Marcelo Bielsa are looking to rediscover a spark that, at present, burns only faintly, harking back to past successes in the Argentine coach’s last dance at the helm of the Uruguayan national team.

As for the Saudis under debutant Giorgos Donis, they return to the continent where they produced their best-ever World Cup campaign, and will be aiming for more with the potential to spring a surprise in Group H. Finally, all eyes will be on the Blue Sharks, who offset their lack of big-stage experience with grit and ambition.

Spain

Number of appearances: 17

Best performance: Winners

We begin this analysis with one of the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup: Spain. A dominant force on the international stage between 2008 and 2012, the period after that golden generation’s triumph was far from encouraging, with three underwhelming World Cup campaigns in the editions that followed. In 2014, the dream ended in the group stage and in 2018 hosts Russia brought an end to La Roja’s hopes. In 2022, the exit was also abrupt as the Spanish side fell in the round of 16 to Morocco.

But the Spaniards are in a different moment now and arrive at the 2026 World Cup as reigning European champions after beating England in the final. Although they lost the Nations League against Portugal, Luis De La Fuente has restored belief and guided Spain to greater heights in recent years, putting them back on the most important list in these tournaments: the list of favourites.

The coach - Luis De La Fuente

Luis De La Fuente took charge of the Spanish national team in 2022, after Luis Enrique departed following that year’s World Cup disappointment. The experienced 64-year-old coach spent several years working with Spain’s youth teams, but embraced the challenge and has been rewarded with success.

Alongside winning the Nations League in 2023, the coach led Spain to the Euro 2024 title, lifting a team that had appeared previously fragile.

The star - Lamine Yamal

His tender age (still just 18!) might at first glance, place Lamine Yamal in the next category in this article: 'One to watch'. But the maturity of the young FC Barcelona prodigy, combined with the output and flair he can produce in mere seconds, elevates him to star status. A single moment of brilliance can unlock a tight game and make the difference in the Spanish attack.

He is a star from head to toe and promises to delight the millions of fans planning to watch Spain’s matches at the World Cup. With Yamal on the pitch, they won’t be disappointed!

One to watch - Ferran Torres

Fernando Torres, Raúl, David Villa, Butragueño, Morientes... The list of lethal centre-forwards seems endless when talking about Spain, but this position has been one of the Spanish team’s weak spots in recent years.

Ferran Torres, enjoying the most prolific season of his career, has scored 21 goals in FC Barcelona colours this campaign and arrives at the World Cup in excellent form, potentially taking on that role. He can also play out wide, so his versatility and adaptability will certainly be an asset for the team.

Other key players: Pau Cubarsí (FC Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (FC Barcelona), Pablo Gavi (FC Barcelona) and Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao)

Cape Verde

Number of appearances: 1 (debut)

Best performance: n/a

Historic: this is the word that best describes Cape Verde’s unprecedented qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The small island national rolled up their sleeves to secure a place in the competition and will therefore make their debut in the world’s biggest national-team tournament.

The Blue Sharks carry the dream, and the hope, of a nation determined to make its mark where many teams step into the pantheon. Between old sleeping glories and bold nations making their mark today there is room for the grit and ambition of the Sharks.

It is worth noting that Cabo Verde finished qualification top of Group D, with 23 points from ten matches with a record of seven wins, two draws and just one defeat.

The coach - Bubista

Bubista has been Cabo Verde’s coach since 2020 and has already written his name into the nation’s history by guiding them to their first-ever qualification for the most complete World Cup in history. The former player had previously been involved with the national side as assistant coach on two separate occasions, but it is as head coach that he has truly stood out.

The star - Ryan Mendes

Ryan Mendes has featured in four different editions of the AFCON and has been one of Cabo Verde’s key driving forces in recent years.

The experienced forward is now preparing to make his World Cup debut at the age of 36 and is expected to be one of the names to keep a close eye on in this edition of the tournament.

One to watch - Sidny Cabral

Out of Benfica’s plans since March, Sidny Cabral endured a difficult end to the season but he will represent Cabo Verde at the 2026 World Cup and has a golden opportunity in this competition to rediscover his best form.

It should be remembered that the Cape Verdean forward was involved in a controversy after asking Vinícius Júnior to swap shirts in the equally controversial match between Benfica and Real Madrid. From then on, José Mourinho used the winter signing for just 14 minutes.

The World Cup is the ideal stage for Sidny Cabral to reinvent himself after a more challenging spell.

Other key players: Stopira (Torreense), Wagner Pina (Trabzonspor), Kevin Pina (FK Krasnodar), Telmo Arcanjo (Vitória SC)

Saudi Arabia

Number of appearances: 7

Best performance: Round of 16

Although Spain and Uruguay are, at first glance, the favourites to finish the group stage in the top two places in Group H, the truth is that a possible surprise involving Saudi Arabia should not be ruled out. Indeed, they have made notable progress in recent years.

In the previous tournament, they stood out by opening with a victory over Argentina, pulling off a historic comeback against Lionel Messi and company. Moreover, their best World Cup performance dates back to 1994, a tournament that was also held in the United States of America. That could be a factor in their favour...

The coach - Giorgos Donis

There is little to say about Giorgos Donis’s time in charge of Saudi Arabia as the Greek took only over at the end of April.

Even so, the country’s football landscape is familiar to Donis, who has coached clubs in the kingdom over the past five and a half years with spells at Al-Wehda, Al-Fateh, and Al-Khaleej.

The star - Salem Al-Dawsari

Talking about Saudi Arabia almost automatically means mentioning Salem Al-Dawsari. At 34, the star man at Al-Hilal is preparing to play in the third World Cup of his long career.

Al-Dawsari had a very brief spell in European football when he joined Villarreal on loan (although he only played one match for the first team) and the rest of his career has been tied to the Riyadh club.

In 2022, he made headlines around the world with a stunning goal in the opening match of that year’s World Cup against Argentina.

One to watch - Saud Abdulhamid

Saud Abdulhamid was a regular presence on the right-hand side for Lens during 2025/26, scoring three goals and providing seven assists in 31 matches. He arrives at the World Cup full of motivation, having won the Coupe de France on 22 May.

He will certainly be a player to watch at the next World Cup, given the wing-back’s high potential. At 26, he is taking his first steps in European football, having been signed by Roma before his loan move to Ligue 1.

Other key players: Khalid Al-Ghannam (Al-Ettifaq), Feras Al-Buraikan (Al-Ahli Jeddah) and Musab Al-Juwayr (Al-Qadisiyah)

Uruguay

Number of appearances: 15

Best performance: Winners

Finally, we turn to a team that were pioneers in winning on the biggest stage in international football (a feat repeated the feat 20 years later) but are now enduring a long drought – 76 years, to be more precise – away from the biggest moments.

Uruguay are currently coached by the experienced Marcelo Bielsa. Previously la Celeste let a golden generation slip away without any World Cup success with their best finish in that period being fourth place after losing to Germany in 2010.

Even so, the combative and hard-working style they play makes Uruguay one of the teams to watch, as underestimating their potential could be a major mistake.

The coach - Marcelo Bielsa

Experienced, controversial, but above all passionate about the beautiful game: former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa inspires devotion and will lead Uruguay at the next World Cup.

Even so, this will be the veteran coach’s final project at the helm of La Celeste, as Bielsa announced he would be leaving before the start of the World Cup. In his last dance, can he return Uruguay to the level they once reached?

The star - Fede Valverde

A standout figure at Real Madrid, his clarity and decision-making make Fede Valverde the true maestro of Uruguay’s midfield engine room.

The 27-year-old creator is one of the players who can make the difference in this Uruguayan squad and their run at the tournament could be very positive if it is built around an inspired Valverde.

One to watch - Rodrigo Zalazar

Enjoying the best spell of his career after finishing the 2025/26 season with 23 goals and eight assists in 47 matches, Zalazar promises to make an impact and be a major asset for Uruguay at the 2026 World Cup.

The former SC Braga player – who has since been signed by Sporting CP for €30 million – wants to continue the positive work he has been doing, and there is no better stage for that than the huge World Cup.

Other key players: Maxi Araújo (Sporting), Giménez (Atlético Madrid), Darwin Núñez (Al-Hilal) and Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo)