Spain and Cape Verde begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaigns today in a match at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, United States. The kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. Local time (16:00 GMT). Spain, the European champions who won the Euro 2024 title, previously won the World Cup in 2010. Cape Verde is making its debut in the tournament and will also face Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in the group stage. According to CBS News, Spain is considered the clear favorite to win the match, though Cape Verde has already made history by reaching the World Cup for the first time. The two teams have never played each other. Opta’s simulations, based on 25,000 matches, gave Spain an 87.2 percent chance of winning, while Cape Verde was given a 4.8 percent chance of an upset. Only one African team, Nigeria, has ever beaten Spain at a World Cup, winning 3-2 in 1998. Other group stage matches taking place today include Belgium facing Egypt in Seattle at 12 p.m. Local time (19:00 GMT), Saudi Arabia meeting Uruguay in Miami at 6 p.m. Local time (22:00 GMT), and Iran facing New Zealand in Los Angeles at 6 p.m. Local time (01:00 GMT on June 16). CBS News noted that Uruguay’s preparations were disrupted by travel problems that delayed the team’s arrival in the United States. The tournament, which began on June 11, features various notable storylines. Haiti is returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, while the match between Iran and New Zealand marks their first competitive meeting. Also, the tournament features the largest age gap between coaches in World Cup history, with Curaçao’s 78-year-old Dick Advocaat facing Germany’s 38-year-old Julian Nagelsmann.