Egypt, Cape Verde Face Tough World Cup Openers Against Belgium and Spain

Egypt and Cape Verde step onto the biggest stage in football today as both African teams begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaigns with difficult opening fixtures against two of Europe’s strongest sides.

Cape Verde will face Spain in Group H at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with kick-off scheduled for 5:00 pm Nigerian time. Later in the day, Egypt will take on Belgium in Group G at Lumen Field in Seattle, with the match set for 11:00 pm Nigerian time.

For Egypt, the opening test is a major one. Belgium arrive at the tournament with confidence, quality and a squad packed with experience. The Red Devils enjoyed a strong warm-up campaign, beating Croatia 2-0 on June 2 before producing a dominant 5-0 victory over Tunisia four days later.

Youri Tielemans and Romelu Lukaku were on target against Croatia, while Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere, Kevin De Bruyne, Dodi Lukebakio and Nicolas Raskin all found the net in the win over Tunisia. Those results have strengthened Belgium’s belief that they can make a serious impact in Group G.

Egypt also entered the tournament with reasons for optimism, although their final preparations produced mixed results. The Pharaohs defeated Russia 1-0 at home on May 28 before losing 2-1 to Brazil on June 7. Bruno Guimaraes and Endrick scored for the five-time world champions in that match, giving Egypt a difficult final test before the World Cup.

Head coach Hossam Hassan has admitted that the opening fixture will demand full concentration from his players. He described Belgium as a difficult opponent and accepted that Group G is highly competitive.

“The opening match against Belgium at the World Cup will be extremely difficult, and the group is strong and highly competitive,” Hassan said. “I do not like losing, and I am saddened by the defeat to Brazil, even though they are one of the biggest teams in the world. We faced a strong and outstanding team in the final match before the World Cup.”

Despite Belgium’s current strength, history gives Egypt some encouragement. The Pharaohs have won three of their four previous meetings with Belgium, while the Red Devils have recorded just one victory against the African side.

Still, World Cup football rarely follows history alone. Egypt will need discipline, defensive organisation and attacking sharpness if they are to frustrate Belgium’s creative players. Belgium are expected to dominate possession for long spells, meaning Egypt must be careful without becoming too passive.

In Atlanta, Cape Verde will begin one of the biggest matches in the country’s football history when they face Spain. The Blue Sharks arrive with momentum after beating Bermuda 3-0 on June 6, extending their unbeaten run to three matches.

Cape Verde’s approach against Spain is expected to be built around compact defending, patience and quick transitions. Against a team that likes to control possession, they will need to stay organised, close spaces quickly and take advantage of any counter-attacking opportunities.

Spain enter the match as overwhelming favourites. Luis de la Fuente’s side are European champions and one of the most technically gifted teams in the tournament. They also come into the World Cup on a long unbeaten run in regulation time, which began in 2024.

La Roja completed their preparations with a 3-1 victory over Peru on June 9 and are widely expected to top Group H, where they will also face Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Their depth, midfield control and attacking options make them one of the strongest teams Cape Verde could have drawn in an opening match.

Spain have also received a fitness boost, with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams returning to full training after recent hamstring concerns. Their availability gives De la Fuente more attacking flexibility, although Spain may still manage their minutes carefully.

For Cape Verde, the fixture is not only about survival. It is also a chance to announce themselves on the world stage. A strong performance against Spain would send a message that they are not in the tournament simply to make up the numbers.

The match will be handled by Jordanian referee Adham Makhadmeh, assisted by compatriots Mohammad Alkalaf and Ahmad Alroalle. It will also be the first-ever meeting between Cape Verde and Spain.

For African football, today’s fixtures carry major interest. Egypt are one of the continent’s most historic football nations, while Cape Verde represent the rise of smaller African teams making their mark globally. Both face difficult assignments, but both also have a chance to produce early World Cup drama.

Belgium and Spain may be favourites on paper, but opening matches can be unpredictable. Egypt will look to use their experience and head-to-head record to trouble Belgium, while Cape Verde will hope discipline, belief and counter-attacking courage can give Spain an uncomfortable evening in Atlanta.