With just days left before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off across North America, Portugal-based footballers are preparing to take center stage in two of the tournament's most intriguing groups. The revamped 48-nation format has created fascinating matchups, and for fans living in Portugal, Groups H and I offer particular interest — several players from Liga Portugal clubs will be competing for glory, making these fixtures essential viewing from Lisbon to Porto.
Why This Matters
• Sporting CP duo Rodrigo Zalazar and Maxi Araújo represent Uruguay in Group H.
• Benfica's Andreas Schjelderup and Fredrik Aursnes feature for Norway in Group I.
• Cabo Verde makes its World Cup debut in Group H — a historic milestone for the Portuguese-speaking island nation with deep cultural ties to Portugal.
• All matches broadcast in Portugal Continental time, with kickoffs ranging from afternoon slots to late-night viewing.
• Third-place pathway: With 8 of 12 third-place finishers advancing to the knockout rounds, even underdogs have realistic qualification hopes.
Group H: Spain's Path to Glory Blocked by Uruguayan Steel
Spain enters as the clear favorite to dominate Group H, riding momentum from their Euro 2024 triumph and sitting 2nd in the FIFA rankings. Luis de la Fuente's squad, built around teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and midfield maestro Pedri, aims to replicate their 2010 World Cup success in South Africa. The Spanish tactical system, emphasizing high possession and pressing, has overwhelmed opponents across Europe and positions them as one of three genuine title contenders alongside France and England.
Yet Uruguay won't roll over quietly. Marcelo Bielsa's side enters the tournament ranked 17th globally, but that number understates their threat level. The South Americans boast Federico Valverde — Real Madrid's box-to-box powerhouse — and are making their fifth consecutive World Cup appearance, showing they know how to compete at this level. In 2018, they eliminated Portugal in the Round of 16, a painful memory for many watching in Portugal.
For Portugal residents, the Uruguayan squad holds special significance. Rodrigo Zalazar, fresh off a spectacular season with Braga where he netted 16 goals and 5 assists in 28 Liga Portugal matches, has just completed a record-breaking €30M transfer to Sporting CP that takes effect July 1. The 26-year-old midfielder, who already has 8 caps and 2 goals for Uruguay, earned Liga Portugal Midfielder of the Month honors multiple times this season. He'll line up alongside Maxi Araújo, the versatile Sporting winger/left-back who contributed 5 goals and 4 assists during the 2025-26 campaign and holds 28 caps for La Celeste.
Cabo Verde's Historic Leap
The most compelling story in Group H involves Cabo Verde's maiden World Cup appearance — an achievement that resonates deeply across Portugal's expatriate communities. The island nation, with one of the smallest populations ever to qualify for the tournament, secured their spot on October 13, 2025, with a commanding 3-0 victory over Eswatini. They topped their qualification group with 23 points from 30 possible, remarkably finishing ahead of football powers like Cameroon and Angola.
This achievement matters particularly to Portugal residents. The country is home to over 100,000 Cape Verdean residents and descendants, making it the largest Cape Verdean diaspora community in Europe. Many Portuguese citizens have family connections to the islands, and Cape Verdean culture has deeply influenced Portuguese music, cuisine, and society, particularly in Lisbon neighborhoods like Cova da Moura.
Manager Bubista has built a squad mixing local talent with diaspora players born in Europe. Among them is Sidny Cabral, who recently moved to Trabzonspor after a brief Benfica stint, and scored crucial goals during qualification including strikes against Malaysia and Libya. Ranked 69th globally, Cabo Verde faces an enormous challenge, yet their defensive organization and counter-attacking philosophy could produce surprises.
Saudi Arabia rounds out the group. The Asian representatives, ranked 61st, are appearing in their third consecutive World Cup, and their 2-1 upset of Argentina in Qatar 2022 — delivered by star man Salem Al-Dawsari of Al Hilal — proved they can shock favorites. Under Greek manager Giorgos Donis, they'll look to exploit any complacency.
Prediction: Spain and Uruguay advance comfortably, with Cabo Verde potentially securing enough points as a third-place finisher to continue their fairytale.
Group I: France's Dominance Meets Nordic Resistance
France enters as the top-ranked nation and the overwhelming favorite not just to win Group I but to capture the entire World Cup. Manager Didier Deschamps, who announced this will be his final tournament, seeks redemption after the agonizing penalty shootout defeat to Argentina in the 2022 final. Led by Kylian Mbappé, now starring for Real Madrid, Les Bleus aim to become the first European nation to win three World Cups.
The competitive intrigue lies in the battle for second place. Norway returns to the World Cup stage after a 28-year absence, propelled by Erling Haaland, Manchester City's goal-scoring machine. Manager Ståle Solbakken has built a system designed to maximize Haaland's lethal finishing while balancing defensive solidity. For Portugal-based fans, Norway's roster includes Benfica pair Andreas Schjelderup and Fredrik Aursnes, who've been instrumental in the club's Liga Portugal campaign.
Senegal represents African football's elite tier, ranked 14th globally and making their third consecutive World Cup appearance. The West Africans, led tactically by Pape Thiaw and on the pitch by Sadio Mané (now at Al Nassr), reached the quarterfinals in their breakthrough 2002 campaign and possess the tactical discipline to frustrate European powerhouses. Recent World Cup history supports their chances — African nations recorded five victories in Qatar 2022, with Morocco sensationally reaching the semifinals by eliminating Spain and Portugal.
Iraq rounds out the group as the ultimate underdog story. Returning to the World Cup after a 40-year absence since Mexico 1986, they survived a brutal playoff system, edging Bolivia 2-1 in the intercontinental final. Ranked 57th and managed by Australian tactician Graham Arnold, Iraq boasts limited star power beyond striker Ali Al-Hamadi of Luton Town but will rely on collective organization and fighting spirit.
What This Means for Portugal Residents
Viewing accessibility: All Group H and I matches air on Portugal Continental time, with kickoffs scheduled between 17h00 and 01h00. Several evening and late-night kickoffs are scheduled throughout the group stage, ideal for social viewing in cafés and bars from Faro to Braga.
Cultural connections: Cabo Verde's participation carries emotional weight for Portugal's substantial Cape Verdean community, while the presence of Liga Portugal stars provides direct rooting interests. Uruguay's fixtures become Sporting previews, offering fans a chance to evaluate Zalazar before his official club debut.
Betting markets: Bookmakers in Portugal favor Spain (70% probability to advance from Group H) and France (95% in Group I), but the eight third-place qualification spots create value in backing Senegal, Norway, or even Cabo Verde to survive the group stage.
Scheduling note: The tournament's 48-team expansion means 32 teams advance to a new Round of 32, fundamentally altering knockout dynamics. This increases the likelihood of Portugal-connected players extending their runs deep into July.
Key Match Schedule
Group H fixtures begin Monday, June 15, with Spain facing Cabo Verde at 17h00, followed by Saudi Arabia-Uruguay at 23h00. The decisive final matchday on June 27 sees both Uruguay-Spain and Cabo Verde-Saudi Arabia kicking off simultaneously at 01h00 to prevent tactical manipulation.
Group I action starts Monday, June 22, with France-Iraq at 22h00. The following day, Tuesday, June 23, sees Norway-Senegal at 01h00. The group concludes Friday, June 26, with both Norway-France and Senegal-Iraq playing concurrently at 20h00.
The Broader Context
Artificial intelligence modeling conducted in May 2026 projected Spain with a 14.5% probability of lifting the trophy, narrowly ahead of England and France (both 12.4%). The expanded format has created the most open World Cup in decades, with analysts suggesting eight legitimate title contenders rather than the traditional three or four.
For African and Asian representatives, recent tournaments demonstrate growing competitiveness. Japan remains unbeaten against European opposition in regulation time since 2018, having stunned both Germany and Spain in Qatar. Senegal, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq will draw inspiration from these precedents, knowing that tactical discipline and counter-attacking speed can neutralize technical superiority.
The 2026 World Cup's North American setting — spanning Canada, the United States, and Mexico — introduces logistical challenges around travel distances between host cities, potentially leveling the playing field between resource-rich European squads and less-heralded challengers. Groups H and I both play their matches in climate-controlled venues, eliminating weather as a variable.
As the tournament approaches, Portugal residents have multiple narratives to follow: Spain's quest for a second title, France's bid for a third, Uruguay's Sporting connection, Norway's Benfica duo, and Cabo Verde's historic journey. The opening week will set the tone for a month-long festival of football that promises both predictability and chaos in equal measure.
