Spain vs Cabo Verde Key Stats: FIFA World Cup 2026
by Trystan Pugh ·
Updated
Below you can find key stats for Spain vs Cabo Verde. From historical trends to player milestones, we have you covered for every match at FIFA World Cup 2026 in USA, Canada & Mexico!
- This is the first ever meeting between Spain and Cabo Verde, with no previous encounters in either friendly or competitive play.
- Spain are competing in their 17th FIFA World Cup, marking their 13th consecutive appearance at the global showpiece, having been ever-present since the 1978 edition.
- Spain completed an unbeaten qualifying campaign for the 2026 finals, recording five consecutive clean-sheet victories before rounding off with a 2-2 draw against Türkiye in their final fixture.
- Spain are one of only eight nations to have won the FIFA World Cup, and they are the latest first-time champions, having claimed their maiden title in 2010 courtesy of a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands after extra time.
- Since their triumphant campaign on South African soil, La Roja have failed to progress beyond the round of 16. At the 2022 edition, their quest to clinch a second crown ended at that stage of the competition following a penalty shoot-out defeat to Morocco, the tournament’s surprise package.
- Spain’s 7-0 win over Costa Rica in their curtain-raiser at Qatar 2022 is their biggest-ever FIFA World Cup victory. Six players found the net in that comprehensive triumph, and at 18 years and 110 days, Gavi became the third-youngest goalscorer in tournament history.
- Spain have won three, drawn two, and lost one of their six FIFA World Cup matches against African opposition. Their most recent encounter was a 0-0 draw with Morocco in the round of 16 at Qatar 2022, with Morocco winning the subsequent penalty shoot‑out 3-0. Their only regulation‑time defeat to a CAF team was a 3-2 loss to Nigeria in the 1998 group stage.
- Spain have lost only five of their last 29 FIFA World Cup group stage matches (W17 D7), although their most recent outing ended in a 2-1 defeat to Japan at Qatar 2022.
- Spain’s last three FIFA World Cup openers have all produced six goals or more: 1-5 v. Netherlands in 2014, 3-3 v. Portugal in 2018, and 7–0 v. Costa Rica in 2022.
- Cabo Verde have qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time. They achieved the feat by securing top spot in Group D of the African qualifying tournament ahead of Cameroon – quarter-finalists at the 1990 global showpiece.
- Cabo Verde’s successful qualification was built on a solid defence which saw them record seven clean sheets in their ten group matches. They did not concede a goal at home in the entire qualifying campaign.
- A country of just over 500,000 people, Cabo Verde has become the third-least populous nation to reach the World Cup, after Curaçao who broke the record when they qualified for the 2026 finals, and Iceland which had a population of approximately 340,000 when its national team reached the 2018 finals.
- Cabo Verde’s Logan Costa plays in Spain’s La Liga for Villarreal.
- Cabo Verde’s Garry Rodrigues played in La Liga for Elche in 2013/14 and 2014/15.
- At 18 years and 337 days, Lamine Yamal could become the second‑youngest Spanish player ever to appear in a FIFA World Cup match, behind Gavi, who was 18 years and 110 days when he played against Costa Rica on 23 November 2022.
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