Group H is Spain's group, and the European champions are the clear favourites. But Uruguay are dangerous opponents, Saudi Arabia are improving fast, and Cabo Verde are making their World Cup debut as the smallest nation ever to qualify. Spain should win the group, but the battle for second place is wide open.

Spain arrive as the bookmakers' favourites to win the whole tournament, and Group H is the perfect place to start. The matches will be played in the United States and Mexico, and Spain's possession game should suit the big, fast pitches of the American stadiums.

Spain lead the way

Spain won Euro 2024 with seven wins in seven games, playing the most attractive football in the tournament. Since then, the team has only got better: Lamine Yamal is now 18 and one of the best players in the world, Pedri is fit and pulling the strings in midfield, and Rodri, the Ballon d'Or winner, anchors the team.

The strength of Spain is the midfield. Rodri, Pedri, Martin Zubimendi and Fabian Ruiz are the best midfield group in the world, and they control games in a way no other team can match. With that midfield, Spain concede very few chances and create plenty of their own.

The only question is the centre forward. Spain do not have a 30-goal-a-season striker, but the goals are shared across the team: Yamal, Nico Williams, Dani Olmo and Alvaro Morata all score, and that makes Spain unpredictable and hard to defend against.

Uruguay: the veterans

Uruguay are the second force in the group. The two-time world champions have a squad full of experience, with players who have played at the highest level for a decade. They are physical, organised and excellent at set pieces, and they know how to win ugly games.

The Uruguayans will make life difficult for Spain. They defend deep, press hard in midfield, and try to hit teams on the counter attack. Against Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde, Uruguay are favourites and should take six points. Against Spain, a draw would be a great result.

The key player is Federico Valverde, the Real Madrid midfielder, who covers every blade of grass and scores spectacular goals. If Valverde has a big tournament, Uruguay could go further than the Round of 32.

Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde

Saudi Arabia are the third team in the group, and they are much better than most people think. The Saudis have invested heavily in their domestic league, their players are now playing against world-class opposition every week, and they beat Argentina at the last World Cup. They are organised, fast and dangerous on the counter attack.

For Saudi Arabia, the key game is against Cabo Verde. A win there would put them in the race for second place, and a draw against Uruguay would keep them alive until the final day. The Saudis will be well supported, with thousands of fans travelling to North America.

Cabo Verde are the fairytale of the tournament. The tiny island nation, with a population of around 500,000, is the smallest country ever to qualify for a World Cup. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain, and they will enjoy every minute. Their aim is to score a goal and take a point, which would be a historic achievement.

Prediction

Our prediction: Spain first with nine points, Uruguay second, Saudi Arabia third with an outside chance of going through as a best third-placed team, Cabo Verde last. But watch out for Uruguay: if they beat Spain on matchday two, the group could turn upside down, and Spain would face a much harder path in the knockouts.