Published on 6/22/2026
The curtain has fallen on the second round of Group H in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, leaving the two qualification tickets to the second round on hold until the third and final round.
The round witnessed a sweeping victory for the Spanish team over its Saudi counterpart with four unanswered goals, raising its score to 4 points at the top of the group, two points ahead of Uruguay and Cape Verde, who tied 2-2.
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The Spanish national team had begun its tournament campaign with a goalless draw against Cape Verde, while the Saudi national team wasted a victory over Uruguay after settling for a 1-1 draw despite taking the lead with a goal by Abdel-Ilah Al-Omari.
The third and decisive round matches will be held on Friday, June 26, at the same time, as Saudi Arabia meets Cape Verde, while Spain faces Uruguay.
Ranking of the eighth group
- Spain: 4 points (+4)
- Uruguay: 2 points (0)
- Cape Verde: 2 points (0)
- Saudi Arabia: 1 point (-4)
Saudi Arabia qualification scenarios
The Saudi national team must achieve a victory over Cape Verde in order to maintain its hopes of qualifying, regardless of the outcome of the match between Spain and Uruguay.
As for any other result, whether a tie or a loss, it will mean the “Green” exit from the tournament, as it will remain in last place with two points if it draws or one point if it loses.
Cape Verde qualification scenarios
The Cape Verdean national team has more than one chance to qualify for the next round:
- If it wins over Saudi Arabia: it qualifies directly to the second round regardless of the result of the match between Spain and Uruguay, and it may also lead the group.
- If it draws with Saudi Arabia and Spain wins over Uruguay: it qualifies for the next round with 3 points in second place, behind Spain, which will raise its score to 7 points, while Uruguay falls to third place with two points.
- If it draws with Saudi Arabia and Uruguay wins over Spain: it occupies third place with 3 points, and its fate becomes linked to the ranking of the best third-placed teams.
- If the two matches are tied: goal difference and then number of goals scored will be judged to determine second place between Uruguay and Cape Verde.
Uruguay has so far scored 3 goals and conceded the same number, while Cape Verde has scored 2 goals and conceded two goals. Therefore, a draw with a score greater than 2-2 may give Cape Verde the advantage in the number of goals scored.
As for the loss to Saudi Arabia, the African team will officially exit the competition.
Did Spain qualify?
The Spanish national team has not officially secured qualification yet, but it has more than one scenario to pass:
- Victory over Uruguay: guarantees qualification at the top of the group.
- Draw: also guarantees qualification, and maintains the lead unless Cape Verde wins over Saudi Arabia by a difference of more than 4 goals.
- Loss to Uruguay: Spain may qualify if Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde draw, or if Saudi Arabia wins by a margin that does not compensate for the loss of the Spanish team.
What does the Uruguay national team need?
The Uruguay national team guarantees direct qualification if it wins over Spain.
- As for a draw, it may not be enough if one of the two teams, Saudi Arabia or Cape Verde, succeeds in achieving victory.
- If it loses to Spain, the Uruguayan team will officially bid farewell to the tournament, regardless of the outcome of the other match.
Thus, all possibilities remain in the eighth group before the final round, with a relative advantage for Spain, while Saudi Arabia’s chances seem linked to achieving victory and waiting for the results of the competitors.
