Group H · Matchday 1
SpainvsCape Verde
2026-06-15·12:00 localPredictions finalised
The forecast
Match-outcome probability
- Spain win85.0%
- Draw12.4%
- Cape Verde win2.5%
A clash of identities: Spain's possession-dominant approach meets Cape Verde's high-press style in a fixture the model gives to Spain at 84%.
Why the model says this
Favoring Spain
- ·Spain holds the FIFA #1 ranking, significantly higher than Cape Verde's #68.
- ·The Elo rating system shows a substantial 616-point advantage for Spain.
- ·Spain's expected goals (xG) of 2.86 are considerably higher than Cape Verde's 0.47, indicating a strong offensive advantage.
- ·Multiple models show strong home favoritism; for instance, the stacking model gives Spain a 92.9% win probability.
Favoring Cape Verde
- ·Cape Verde has secured 4 draws in their last 6 matches, demonstrating an ability to avoid defeat.
- ·Video analysis from past matches notes Cape Verde's 'resilient defensive performance' and an 'instrumental' goalkeeper, suggesting a capacity to frustrate stronger opponents.
- ·Cape Verde's 'High press' archetype, with a PPDA of 17.2 (78.8 percentile), indicates an active defensive approach that could disrupt Spain's build-up.
What the model can't fully price
- ·The model does not currently account for squad availability, with 3 players across both squads carrying fitness doubts, including 1 projected starter.
Form check
Spain
SteadySpain enters this match in strong form, having remained unbeaten in their last six fixtures, securing four wins and two draws. Their recent performances include a 3-0 friendly win and a 4-0 World Cup qualifier victory.
Spain has scored 15 goals in their last six matches.
Cape Verde
DecliningCape Verde's recent form shows a struggle for victories, with only one win in their last six matches. They have recorded four draws and one loss in this period, including a 1-1 draw in the FIFA Series and a 2-4 loss.
Cape Verde has secured only one victory in their last six outings.
Analysis
How it plays out
Spain want to build from the back; Cape Verde press high to prevent exactly that. If Spain play through the press they'll find dangerous space. If they don't, turnovers come in costly areas. Spain will expect to hold 68% possession. Cape Verde need their shape to stay compact without the ball and be clinical when they win it back.
What decides it
Spain's possession game (68% avg) requires patience in the final third and quick ball recovery when they lose it. Cape Verde press high (PPDA 17.2). If the press doesn't win the ball early, the space behind their back line becomes exposed. Mikel Oyarzabal's 11.6% scoring probability is the highest in this fixture. Containing that output is Cape Verde's primary defensive task.
Off the pitch
No major off-pitch asymmetries. This one is decided by the football.
The angle
The model gives Cape Verde just 5.1% to win. Every World Cup produces group-stage upsets; the question is whether this fixture is one of them.
▸Goals & scorelines
Likeliest score 2–0 (16.8%) · xG 2.7 - 0.4
Expected goals
Mean of the Dixon-Coles joint goal distribution. Same fit that produces the most-likely-scoreline list below.
Most likely scorelines
- 2–016.8%
- 3–015.1%
- 1–012.2%
- 4–010.1%
- 2–16.4%
From the Dixon-Coles joint Poisson with the low-score correction. Scorelines are listed in probability order; this is a description of the model's distribution, not a recommendation.
Most likely half-time scorelines
- 1–028.6%
- 0–021.9%
- 2–019.5%
- 3–08.7%
- 1–15.8%
Same Dixon-Coles fit as the full-time list above, with rates halved to a 45-minute window and the low-score correction applied to that 1st-half block. The 0-0 row sits higher here than at full-time because fewer minutes have elapsed.
Goal totals
- More than 0.5 goals95.1%
- More than 1.5 goals81.4%
- More than 2.5 goals59.2%
- More than 3.5 goals36.8%
- More than 4.5 goals19.7%
- More than 5.5 goals9.1%
- Both teams score29.8%
Each row is the probability the match finishes with more than the listed number of goals. Both-teams-to-score is the probability each side scores at least once. All values are marginals of the Dixon-Coles joint goal grid that produces the scoreline list above — not market lines or any other operator construct.
Event-typed probabilities
- Spain clean sheetOpposing team scores zero68.4%
- Cape Verde clean sheetOpposing team scores zero6.8%
Derived from the same Dixon-Coles joint distribution as the scoreline list. These are descriptive event probabilities — see CLAUDE.md §3/§4 (formerly COMPLIANCE.md §4.2.7) for the framing the project uses.
Win-margin probability
- Spain by 4+23.2%
- Spain by 3+42.5%
- Spain by 2+65.8%
- Spain by 1+85.6%
- Draw11.3%
- Cape Verde by 1+3.1%
- Cape Verde by 2+0.5%
- Cape Verde by 3+0.1%
- Cape Verde by 4+<0.1%
Each row is the probability the match ends with the listed margin or larger in that direction. Marginal of the Dixon-Coles joint goal grid; the “by 1+” rows plus the draw row sum to 1.
▸How the match unfolds
Over 2.5 goals 59.2% · BTTS 29.8%
Game state through the match
- Spain ahead85.9%
- Level10.8%
- Cape Verde ahead3.4%
Probability of each game state at minutes 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 — derived from two independent thinned-Poisson processes with the Dixon-Coles per-team rates. The three lines always sum to 1 at each minute. The right column shows the state at the match's closing minute.
When the first goal arrives
- 0–1540.1%
- 15–3024.0%
- 30–4514.4%
- 45–608.6%
- 60–755.2%
- 75–903.1%
- No goal4.6%
Probability the match's first goal arrives in each 15-minute window. Homogeneous Poisson with combined rate λ = λh + λa from the Dixon-Coles fit; the seven rows (six windows + no-goal tail) sum to 1.
Half-time / full-time grid
| HT ↓ / FT → | HSpain win | DDraw | ACape Verde win |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSpain ahead | 65.4% | 1.6% | 0.1% |
| DLevel | 19.0% | 7.7% | 1.4% |
| ACape Verde ahead | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.7% |
Each cell is P(half-time result, full-time result). All nine cells sum to 1. Derived from a halved-λ Dixon-Coles fit for the first half plus an independent-Poisson second-half convolution.
Comeback probability
- Spain trail at HT, avoid defeat at FT3.0%
- Cape Verde trail at HT, avoid defeat at FT1.8%
Joint probability — P(side trailing at half-time AND avoiding defeat at full-time). NOT conditional on trailing at HT. Derived from the same half-time / full-time decomposition that produces the HT/FT grid above; a tied first half is neither a home nor an away comeback opportunity.
Cards
- Expected yellow cardsMean of the Poisson on total yellow cards.3.45
- Total yellows over 2.567.0%
- Total yellows over 3.545.3%
- Total yellows over 4.526.5%
- Any red cardP(at least one red card in the match).9.5%
Referee not yet assigned. Using the 2026 pool-mean per-match rate as a placeholder; the model picks up the referee's personal rate once the assignment is published. Total yellow cards modelled as a Poisson with mean equal to two team baselines plus the referee's deviation from the pool mean. Reds are modelled the same way, independently. See /docs/methodology/.
▸Teams & players
Top scorer: Oyarzabal (11.6%)
Match detail
Spain
Model-rated key players: Mikel Oyarzabal (FW) — P(scores) 11.6%; Ferran Torres (FW) — P(scores) 6.4%; Lamine Yamal (FW) — P(scores) 5.8%.
Spain under Luis de la Fuente play a possession dominant game, holding 68% of the ball — among the highest in the tournament field. Their likely shape is a 4-3-3. They press intensely (PPDA 15.7, top quartile (4th of 40)) and build patiently through midfield with 10.0 passes per attacking sequence. They generate a high volume of shots (15.3 per 90).
To succeed, Spain must control tempo and territory in midfield — their possession-dominant approach depends on dictating the rhythm of each match.
Cape Verde
Model-rated key players: Nuno da Costa (FW) — P(scores) 5.3%; Dailon Livramento (FW) — P(scores) 2.8%; Ryan Mendes (FW) — P(scores) 2.8%.
Cape Verde under Bubista play a high press game with 53% possession. They apply moderate pressing intensity (PPDA 17.2) and move the ball forward quickly at 5.7 passes per attack. They generate a high volume of shots (13.2 per 90).
Cape Verde need their high press to force turnovers in dangerous areas — if opponents can play through the press, the space left behind is vulnerable. Physical conditioning and squad rotation will be critical to sustain pressing intensity across a long tournament.
Spain's predicted XI averages 1,633 club minutes over the 2024-25 season (light load).
Spain coverage: 81.0% (9/11 XI matched against the FBref Big-5) · Cape Verde: 24.0% (3/11).
Spain historically converts 17.4% of xG from set-pieces, contributing 0.47 expected set-piece goals in this fixture. Cape Verde converts 16.1% from set-pieces (0.06 expected). Combined, the model expects 0.53 set-piece goals across the 90 minutes.
- P(Spain scores set-piece goal) 37.4%
- P(Cape Verde scores set-piece goal) 5.9%
- P(set-piece goal in match) 41.1%
Spain: Mikel Oyarzabal on corners (56 corners), Aleix García on free kicks (per fbref 2021 22)
If a penalty is awarded to Spain, the model gives 72.5% conversion, 72.0% for Cape Verde.
Spain primary PK: Mikel Oyarzabal (4/5 in 2021-22, per fbref 2021 22) · Cape Verde primary PK: Nuno da Costa (1/1 in 2018-19, per fbref 2018 19).
Derived from the model's per-fixture forecast joint and supporting reference data (predicted squads, set-piece xG share, PK posteriors, club minutes). See /docs/methodology/ for the full methodology.
Tactical forecast
- PPDA
- 15.7
- Possession
- 68%
- Directness (yds/pass)
- 3.1
- Long balls/90
- 21
- Set-piece xG
- 17%
- PPDA
- 17.2
- Possession
- 53%
- Directness (yds/pass)
- 6.6
- Long balls/90
- 37
- Set-piece xG
- 16%
Style profile per side from StatsBomb open-data aggregation across recent international tournaments (Euro 2020/2024, Copa America 2024, AFCON 2023, World Cup 2018/2022). The tactical-fingerprint badge maps each team’s observed style vector into one of eight canonical archetypes via a rule-based classifier; teams with fewer than three matches of qualifying coverage carry an “insufficient-data” label rather than being forced into a default. Sides outside the StatsBomb-open corpus use FotMob team match stats from recent qualifiers and friendlies instead (possession and shot volume only), marked as partial coverage. PPDA = passes the side allows per defensive action (lower = more intense press). Formation distributions are not yet produced — that head of the §2.7 classifier is pending its own data pull. See /docs/methodology/.
Squad depth
Most irreplaceable starters
Spain
- Dani OlmoAttacking midfieldNo natural backup0.51gap
- RodriDefensive midfieldCover: Martín Zubimendi · 0.390.27gap
- Ferran TorresStrikerCover: Borja Iglesias · 0.650.26gap
Cape Verde
- Logan CostaCentre-backCover: Diney · 0.360.41gap
- Kevin PinaDefensive midfieldCover: Laros Duarte · 0.280.25gap
- Jamiro MonteiroCentral midfieldCover: Yannick Semedo · 0.130.24gap
Gap = how far a side's rating at the position falls from the starter to his likely in-squad replacement (named under each name). Larger = harder to replace. Descriptive metric, does not feed the published probabilities. Methodology →
Match conditions
- AltitudeNear sea level320 m
- Avg temperatureFive-year mean over the tournament window25.7 °C
- Avg humidity73%
- Heat stressShade WBGT ~27.9 °CLow heat stress
- Pitch surfacetemporary natural grass over artificial turf
Indoor artificial-turf stadium converting to a temporary natural-grass pitch for the tournament.
Heat stress is a shade Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature proxy from the venue's climatology mean temperature and humidity; FIFA mandates cooling breaks at WBGT 32 °C. Afternoon kickoff (local time). These are long-window averages, not a match-day forecast, and they are not inputs to the forecast.
Top scorers · P(scores in this match)
- Mikel OyarzabalPKFW11.6%
- Ferran TorresFW6.4%
- Lamine YamalFW5.8%
- Nuno da CostaPKFW5.3%
- Dailon LivramentoFW2.8%
- Ryan MendesFW2.8%
Per-player scoring rate from Model #5 (`p_score_per_match`). Reflects each player's npxG/90, expected minutes, team xG share, and the average opposing-team defence. See /docs/methodology/.
Recent match form
Last match player ratings
Spain
vs Austria · avg 8.0
Worked well: Their ability to create a high volume of chances, combined with effective finishing for three goals, proved decisive. The full-backs' forward runs were particularly impactful.
Struggled: Spain could have been more efficient with their finishing, as several clear-cut opportunities, including shots hitting the woodwork, were not converted.
Cape Verde
vs Argentina · avg 7.0
Player scores from official highlight analysis of each team's most recent match. Observational, not a model input. Methodology →
Video analysis: player performance
Per-player ratings and event breakdowns from official highlights analysis. Tap a player to see their full match timeline.
7Marc Cucurella1'–81'Was a constant threat down the left flank, delivering crosses and taking a shot on goal.
2shots1on target▼
Was a constant threat down the left flank, delivering crosses and taking a shot on goal.
Match timeline
7Aymeric Laporte45'–57'Was a threat from set-pieces and long-range, and maintained defensive solidity.
3shots2on target▼
Was a threat from set-pieces and long-range, and maintained defensive solidity.
Match timeline
6Ferran Torres1'–47'Created several scoring opportunities and hit the woodwork but failed to convert any chances.
5shots3on target▼
Created several scoring opportunities and hit the woodwork but failed to convert any chances.
Match timeline
6Fabián Ruiz48'–50'Attempted two shots but failed to hit the target, with limited other notable contributions.
2shots▼
Attempted two shots but failed to hit the target, with limited other notable contributions.
Match timeline
6Marcos Llorente72'–72'Provided a good cross that led to a scoring opportunity for a teammate.
▼
Provided a good cross that led to a scoring opportunity for a teammate.
Match timeline
6Mikel Merino72'–72'Had a shot on goal that was blocked, but otherwise had limited notable actions.
1shots▼
Had a shot on goal that was blocked, but otherwise had limited notable actions.
Match timeline
6Dani Olmo87'–87'Created a late scoring chance for a teammate through his movement.
▼
Created a late scoring chance for a teammate through his movement.
Match timeline
6Roberto LopezRegistered a header on target from a cross.
Registered a header on target from a cross.
5Mikel Oyarzabal28'–94'Had numerous opportunities and hit the crossbar but was also dispossessed in a dangerous area and failed to convert.
7shots1on target▼
Had numerous opportunities and hit the crossbar but was also dispossessed in a dangerous area and failed to convert.
Match timeline
9Vozinha1'–81'His exceptional goalkeeping performance was the primary reason Cape Verde secured a draw, making numerous crucial saves.
9saves▼
His exceptional goalkeeping performance was the primary reason Cape Verde secured a draw, making numerous crucial saves.
Match timeline
8Pico87'–87'Made a critical defensive intervention to prevent a late goal, showcasing strong defensive awareness.
1blocks▼
Made a critical defensive intervention to prevent a late goal, showcasing strong defensive awareness.
Match timeline
7Diney Borges90'–90'Contributed to a strong defensive effort and had a late attacking opportunity.
1shots1on target▼
Contributed to a strong defensive effort and had a late attacking opportunity.
Match timeline
7Sidny Lopes Cabral30'–30'Executed a vital tackle in the box to prevent a clear scoring chance for Spain.
1blocks▼
Executed a vital tackle in the box to prevent a clear scoring chance for Spain.
Match timeline
6Dailon Livramento34'–34'Had a shot attempt but otherwise had no significant impact on the game.
1shots▼
Had a shot attempt but otherwise had no significant impact on the game.
Match timeline
6LinaRegistered a shot on target late in the game, but otherwise had limited involvement.
Registered a shot on target late in the game, but otherwise had limited involvement.
Match observations
- Spain maintained significant possession and generated numerous scoring opportunities throughout the contest.
- Cabo Verde displayed a resilient defensive performance, with their goalkeeper Vozinha being particularly instrumental in thwarting Spain's efforts.
- The match concluded in a goalless draw, a commendable result for Cabo Verde against a strong opponent.
▸Under the hood
Model-by-model comparison
Spain vs Cape Verde
| Model | Weight | Home | Draw | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EloRating-based strength estimate | 32% | 85.9% | 14.1% | 0.0% |
| Dixon-ColesGoal-process model with low-score correction | 63% | 85.9% | 11.1% | 3.0% |
| Hierarchical PoissonBayesian model with confederation pooling | 6% | 83.7% | 12.3% | 4.0% |
| Bayesian stackingLearned-weight combination | — | 95.0% | 5.0% | 0.0% |
| Ensemble (published)Uniform average + isotonic calibration | — | 83.9% | 15.0% | 1.0% |
How each model works
- Elo
- Each team carries a single strength rating updated after every match by a margin-aware K-factor. Match probabilities come from the logistic function of the rating gap. Elo is fast-adapting but coarse — it sees only who won and by how much, not how the goals were scored.
- Dixon-Coles
- A Poisson regression on team-level attack and defence parameters, fitted via maximum likelihood with an exponential time-decay weighting. The Dixon-Coles correction adjusts the four low-score cells (0-0, 1-0, 0-1, 1-1) where independent Poisson underestimates dependence. Produces full scoreline distributions, not just H/D/A.
- Hierarchical Poisson
- A Bayesian Poisson model fitted via MCMC (PyMC) with hierarchical priors that pool attack and defence parameters within confederations. Shrinks small-sample teams toward their confederation mean — helpful for nations with few recent competitive fixtures. Slower to fit but better-calibrated on the tails.
- Bayesian stacking
- Optimises simplex weights (w_elo, w_dc, w_hp) to maximise the leave-one-out log-score across a walk-forward backtest (Yao et al. 2018). The result is a weighted average of the three component models' probabilities, then isotonic-calibrated. Adds no extra features — just learns which component to trust more from historical accuracy.
- Ensemble (published)
- Equal-weight average of all three component models, followed by per-class isotonic regression calibration fitted on 24 months of walk-forward out-of-fold predictions. This is the probability published on the site. The uniform mean is deliberately simple — it avoids overfitting to the stacking weights' training window.
Three independent component models feed two combination strategies. The uniform ensemble is the published probability; Bayesian stacking uses learned weights. Amber bars flag >5pp divergence from the published number. Full methodology
Probability decomposition (transparency surface)
- Baseline ensemble — P(Spain win)85.0%
- + Lineup contribution0.0pp
- + Style-matchup contribution0.0pp
- Published P(Spain win)85.0%
Decomposition of the published P(Spain win) into the calibrated- baseline plus contributions from the §2.3 expected-XI lineup delta and the §2.7 style-matchup interaction. The §2.7 roadmap is explicit that style effects are second-order to team strength — single-digit-percentage P(win) shifts on extreme style matchups, near-zero on balanced ones. We surface the decomposition for transparency even when the contributions are small; the baseline carries the prediction. Methodology: /docs/methodology.
For this fixture both contributions round to under 0.05pp — the fitted style-matchup pair effect is in the small-magnitude regime the model expects to dominate.
Head-to-head history
| Date | Competition | Venue | Score | Result | xG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jun 2026 | FIFA World Cup | NAtlanta | 0–0 | D | — |
Spain vs Cape Verde, every senior international meeting in the martj42 results dataset (score from Spain's perspective; H/A/N = home/away/neutral).
Latest news & match context
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- Stage:
- Group H · Matchday 1
- Date:
- 15 Jun
Spain
Spain come in at close to full strength.
Cape Verde
Cape Verde come in at close to full strength.
Spain and Cape Verde both come in at close to full strength, so the forecast rests on baseline team strength rather than late team-news swings.
Availability from the predicted squads and injury feed; forecast adjustments from the model's own decomposition. See /docs/methodology/.
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