Group H · Matchday 1

SpainvsCape Verde

2026-06-15·12:00 localPredictions finalised

Snapshot · 2026-07-14Model 1.0.0Final prediction · locked 15 Jun, 13:37 UTCSpain·Cape Verde·Head-to-head →·
Full time · forecast gradedSpain 0 0 Cape VerdeThe locked pre-match forecast has been graded against this result.See the calibration recap →

The forecast

Match-outcome probability

  • Spain win
    85.0%
  • Draw
    12.4%
  • Cape Verde win
    2.5%

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%.

Rank checkFIFA ranks Cape Verde #68 in the world; the model ranks them #36 in this tournament field, 32 places higher than the FIFA list suggests. All 48 compared →
Likeliest score2–016.8%
First goal0-15'40.1%
Both teams score29.8%
Over 2.5 goals59.2%
Top scorerOyarzabal11.6%
Expected goals2.7 - 0.4
Loading pitch visualisation...

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

Steady

Spain 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

Declining

Cape 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

Spain
2.69
Cape Verde
0.38

Mean of the Dixon-Coles joint goal distribution. Same fit that produces the most-likely-scoreline list below.

Most likely scorelines

  • 2–0
    16.8%
  • 3–0
    15.1%
  • 1–0
    12.2%
  • 4–0
    10.1%
  • 2–1
    6.4%

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

  • 1–0
    28.6%
  • 0–0
    21.9%
  • 2–0
    19.5%
  • 3–0
    8.7%
  • 1–1
    5.8%

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 goals
    95.1%
  • More than 1.5 goals
    81.4%
  • More than 2.5 goals
    59.2%
  • More than 3.5 goals
    36.8%
  • More than 4.5 goals
    19.7%
  • More than 5.5 goals
    9.1%
  • Both teams score
    29.8%

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%
  • Draw
    11.3%
  • 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

0%25%50%75%100%0'15'30'45'60'75'90'
  • 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

  • 0–15
    40.1%
  • 15–30
    24.0%
  • 30–45
    14.4%
  • 45–60
    8.6%
  • 60–75
    5.2%
  • 75–90
    3.1%
  • No goal
    4.6%

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

Joint probability of half-time and full-time results
HT ↓ / FT →HSpain winDDrawACape Verde win
HSpain ahead65.4%1.6%0.1%
DLevel19.0%7.7%1.4%
ACape Verde ahead1.6%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 FT
    3.0%
  • Cape Verde trail at HT, avoid defeat at FT
    1.8%

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%.

How they play

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).

What they must execute

To succeed, Spain must control tempo and territory in midfield — their possession-dominant approach depends on dictating the rhythm of each match.

Storylines
Club core: 8 of 26 predicted-squad players play their club football for Barcelona — a single-club spine on the international side.
Club xG: Squad averages 1.85 xG per match across club football last season — #3 of 20 in the field for attacking pedigree from each player's domestic side (23 of 26 players matched to a known club).
Teen starter: Lamine Yamal18 at kickoff — 25 caps — projected on the bench, the squad's youngest pick.

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%.

How they play

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).

What they must execute

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.

Storylines
Model bold: Model rates them #47 by tournament-winner probability — 21 places higher than FIFA #68.
Veteran #1: Vozinha40 at kickoff with 85 caps — last World Cup for the #1.
Local-league core: Only 3 of 25 predicted-squad players played in a top-5 European league last season — the rest play home or in non-top-5 leagues.
Workload going in

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).

Set-piece outlook

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)

Penalty outlook

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

Spainpossession-dominant
PPDA
15.7
Possession
68%
Directness (yds/pass)
3.1
Long balls/90
21
Set-piece xG
17%
Cape Verdehigh-press
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

  1. Dani OlmoAttacking midfieldNo natural backup0.51gap
  2. RodriDefensive midfieldCover: Martín Zubimendi · 0.390.27gap
  3. Ferran TorresStrikerCover: Borja Iglesias · 0.650.26gap

Cape Verde

  1. Logan CostaCentre-backCover: Diney · 0.360.41gap
  2. Kevin PinaDefensive midfieldCover: Laros Duarte · 0.280.25gap
  3. 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)

Cape Verde

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

8
Mikel OyarzabalAM
ATK
DEF
PAS
8
Dani OlmoAM
ATK
DEF
PAS
8
Pedro PorroRB
ATK
DEF
PAS
8
Marc CucurellaLB
ATK
DEF
PAS

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

9
VozinhaGK
ATK
DEF
PAS
8
Sidny Lopes CabralCM
ATK
DEF
PAS
7
Deroy DuarteCM
ATK
DEF
PAS
4
Pico LopesCB
ATK
DEF
PAS

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.

Spain
7
Marc Cucurella1'–81'

Was a constant threat down the left flank, delivering crosses and taking a shot on goal.

2shots1on target

Match timeline

1'Ferran Torres' shot from Cucurella's cross was saved.
28'Pedri's cross, Cucurella's header, Oyarzabal's shot, and Pedri's follow-up shot were all denied, with an offside flag raised.
47'Cucurella's cross resulted in Ferran Torres' shot hitting the crossbar, followed by a header over the goal.
81'Cucurella's shot saved by Vozinha.
7
Aymeric Laporte45'–57'

Was a threat from set-pieces and long-range, and maintained defensive solidity.

3shots2on target

Match timeline

45'A Pedri corner led to a header from Laporte, which was saved.
46'Laporte's header saved by Vozinha.
57'Laporte's long-range shot hits the crossbar.
6
Ferran Torres1'–47'

Created several scoring opportunities and hit the woodwork but failed to convert any chances.

5shots3on target

Match timeline

1'Ferran Torres' shot from Cucurella's cross was saved.
38'Oyarzabal's header hits the crossbar, Ferran Torres' follow-up header saved by Vozinha.
44'Ferran Torres' shot saved by Vozinha.
47'Cucurella's cross resulted in Ferran Torres' shot hitting the crossbar, followed by a header over the goal.
47'Cucurella's cross resulted in Ferran Torres' shot hitting the crossbar, followed by a header over the goal.
6
Fabián Ruiz48'–50'

Attempted two shots but failed to hit the target, with limited other notable contributions.

2shots

Match timeline

48'Fabian Ruiz's shot goes off target.
50'Fabian Ruiz's shot goes off target.
6
Marcos Llorente72'–72'

Provided a good cross that led to a scoring opportunity for a teammate.

Match timeline

72'Llorente's cross set up Merino for a shot, which was blocked.
6
Mikel Merino72'–72'

Had a shot on goal that was blocked, but otherwise had limited notable actions.

1shots

Match timeline

72'Llorente's cross set up Merino for a shot, which was blocked.
6
Dani Olmo87'–87'

Created a late scoring chance for a teammate through his movement.

Match timeline

87'Dani Olmo's movement created an opportunity for Oyarzabal, whose shot was blocked.
6
Roberto Lopez

Registered a header on target from a cross.

5
Mikel Oyarzabal28'–94'

Had numerous opportunities and hit the crossbar but was also dispossessed in a dangerous area and failed to convert.

7shots1on target

Match timeline

28'Pedri's cross, Cucurella's header, Oyarzabal's shot, and Pedri's follow-up shot were all denied, with an offside flag raised.
30'Oyarzabal dispossessed by Lopes Cabral in the box.
35'Oyarzabal's header saved by Vozinha (offside).
38'Oyarzabal's header hits the crossbar, Ferran Torres' follow-up header saved by Vozinha.
52'Oyarzabal's chip shot goes wide.
79'Oyarzabal's shot was blocked by a defender.
87'Dani Olmo's movement created an opportunity for Oyarzabal, whose shot was blocked.
94'Oyarzabal's header goes off target.
Cape Verde
9
Vozinha1'–81'

His exceptional goalkeeping performance was the primary reason Cape Verde secured a draw, making numerous crucial saves.

9saves

Match timeline

1'Ferran Torres' shot from Cucurella's cross was saved.
14'Pedri's shot saved by Vozinha.
16'Pedri delivered a cross, leading to a header by Roberto Lopez, which was saved.
35'Oyarzabal's header saved by Vozinha (offside).
38'Oyarzabal's header hits the crossbar, Ferran Torres' follow-up header saved by Vozinha.
44'Ferran Torres' shot saved by Vozinha.
45'A Pedri corner led to a header from Laporte, which was saved.
46'Laporte's header saved by Vozinha.
81'Cucurella's shot saved by Vozinha.
8
Pico87'–87'

Made a critical defensive intervention to prevent a late goal, showcasing strong defensive awareness.

1blocks

Match timeline

87'Pico Lopes: The Cabo Verde defender made a heroic defensive intervention in the 87th minute, deflecting a goal-bound shot for a corner.
7
Diney Borges90'–90'

Contributed to a strong defensive effort and had a late attacking opportunity.

1shots1on target

Match timeline

90'A Lopez cross resulted in a header from Borges, which was saved.
7
Sidny Lopes Cabral30'–30'

Executed a vital tackle in the box to prevent a clear scoring chance for Spain.

1blocks

Match timeline

30'Oyarzabal dispossessed by Lopes Cabral in the box.
6
Dailon Livramento34'–34'

Had a shot attempt but otherwise had no significant impact on the game.

1shots

Match timeline

34'Livramento's long-range shot goes wide.
6
Lina

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

Consensus (4.0%)
ModelWeightHomeDrawAway
EloRating-based strength estimate32%
85.9%
14.1%
0.0%
Dixon-ColesGoal-process model with low-score correction63%
85.9%
11.1%
3.0%
Hierarchical PoissonBayesian model with confederation pooling6%
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%
Home spread: 2.2%
Draw spread: 3.0%
Away spread: 4.0%
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%
Spain
85.0%
Draw
12.4%
Cape Verde
2.6%

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

DateCompetitionVenueScoreResultxG
15 Jun 2026FIFA World CupNAtlanta00D

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

Match conditions
Stage:
Group H · Matchday 1
Date:
15 Jun
Availability

Spain

Spain come in at close to full strength.

Cape Verde

Cape Verde come in at close to full strength.

What it means

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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