{"id":39171,"date":"2026-06-05T15:19:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T19:19:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/?p=39171"},"modified":"2026-06-05T15:19:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T19:19:37","slug":"world-cup-group-h-betting-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/soccer\/world-cup-group-h-betting-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup Group H Betting Preview | Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">World Cup Group H Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did you know\u2026In the early 2000s, <a href=\"https:\/\/wt.buzz\/tgs\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/wt.buzz\/tgs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GoldSheet<\/a> had a sister publication named European Soccer Weekly?! Long before every European soccer (cough football) match was broadcast in the US on ESPN, Peacock and Paramount, Bruce Marshall and Co. were breaking down the action on the pitch. Bruce shares his thoughts on World Cup Group H, which features a pair of heavyweights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">World Cup Group H Odds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>Team<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Win the Group<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Round of 16<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Win the Tournament<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Spain<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">-425<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">-370<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+470<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Uruguay<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+410<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+130<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+6000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Saudi Arabia<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+4000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+800<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+250000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cape Verde<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+5500<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+1600<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+250000<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Odds above courtesy of FanDuel as of June 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Discussions about World Cup Group H begin and end with Spain, the Euro 2024 holders and winners of four international tourneys since 2008. The success two years ago in Germany still resonates, and after a comfy UEFA qualifying campaign \u201cLa Furia Roja\u201d is rated a top choice by several outlets to win the World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The riches at Luis de la Fuente\u2019s disposal are bountiful, bolstered by a style change instituted by de la Fuente himself a few years ago in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. Specifically, no longer \u201cpassing for passing\u2019s sake\u201d or the mesmserizing \u201ctike-taka\u201d as perfected in the three straight tourney crowns between 2008-12 featuring the Barcelona influence and interpreted masterfully by midfield magicians Xavi and Iniesta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u201cnew\u201d Spain would attack more directly and not concern itself as much with simple possession; de la Fuente, who coached most of the side during their U-20 and U-23 careers, correctly gauged the talent on hand. The \u201cnew Spain\u201d would attack with electricity on the flanks in particular, with new-found electric pace and the sort of distorting elements to pull apart oppositing defenses in a much different manner than the Xavi-Iniesta sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the Euros, de la Fuente made the most of Nico Williams and especially teenage sensation Lamine Yamal on the wings, their ability to stretch defenses suddenly pulling apart the opposition and creating the lanes for several big goals, including Mikel Oyarzabal\u2019s beauty in the final minutes to pip England at Berlin in the 2024 final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At full strength, Spain has enough petrol to outscore anyone in the field, but that\u2019s also the kicker, as Williams endured an injury-marred campaign at Athletic Bilbao, and Lamine Yamal\u2019s pulled hamstring sidelined him for the final month-plus of the Liga campaign at Barcelona. Add in midfield ace Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d\u2019Or winner who has has numberous injury woes the past two seasons at Man City, and the seeds for Spain undershooting its objectives are planted\u2026we&#8217;ll see if they bloom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All three are available and on the squad for the World Cup, but de la Fuente is also playing it carefully, not starting any of that trio in the recent warm-up friendly vs. Iran. If all hands are on deck and pistons firing, Spain looks the best team this summer and a worthy favorite\u2026but de la Fuente is also crossing his fingers that his top charges are going to be ready to go at full-speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Uruguay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Always capable of causing a stir, the two-time champions (a long time ago..1930 &amp; 1950) can become a nuisance with their trademark physical style, and veteran gaffer Marcelo Bielsa remains a crafty tactician. \u201cEl Loco\u201d however hasn\u2019t endured a smooth ride lately, as vet striker Luis Suarez was left off the squad and caused a stir in Montevideo because of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moreover, the CONMEBOL qualifying campaign had many highs and lows, with the highs mostly coming early (such as home wins over Brazil and Argentina) and lows later on, with only one win in a nine-match stretch that included a four-match goalless run. A 5-1 friendly loss to USA last November might have been the deepest slip into the abyss, though results since suggest something of a recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The clear second-choice in this group behind Spain, Uruguay could well find itself in the knockout phase with an immediate match in the Round of 32 vs. old-enemy Argentina. Bielsa will be looking toward Real Madrid\u2019s Federico Valverde, scorer of a hat-trick in the Champions League vs. Man City at the Bernabeu in March, to supply the magical moments, but a deep run thru the KO phase seems unlikely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saudi Arabia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s hard to remember that the Sauids actually beat Argentina in the group phase of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, though the campaign fizzled aftterwards, making it 0-for-5 to qualify for the knockout phase at Copa Mundial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This will be a third straight World Cup appearance, however, and the mastermind of the Aregntina upset, French coach Herve Renard, returned to the fold after Roberto Mancini\u2019s 14-month stint fizzled in late 2024. Yet qualifying thru AFC (Asia) was hardly straightforward, taking the long route thru a fourth round, a laborious journey finally secured by edging out Indonesia and Iraq on goals scored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the pitch, the Saudis look a good bet to be involved in lower-scoring affairs, beginning with their June 15 match vs. Uruguay in Miami; in the last 12 qualifiers, the Sauids bagged only 13 goals, though shipping only 10 goals in the same span.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Much of the starting XI comes from the Saudi Pro League, but Cristiano Ronaldo isn\u2019t one of them. Chance at qualification for the knockout phase likely comes down to the last group match vs . Cape Verde in Houston on June 27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cape Verde<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First-time World Cup participants with the third-smallest population (behind only Iceland and fellow 2026 World Cup debutante Curacao), Cape Verde seems one of the entries to have been able to benefit from the expanded (to 48) World Cup field and extra qualifying spots awarded to CAF (Africa). The \u201cBlue Sharks\u201d seem more likely to add some color to the festivities than set the tourney alight on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, CAF observers suggest the side could provide a surprise or two, with a far-flung diaspora of players born in places like France, Portugal, and the Netherlands, with ancestral roots tracing to Cape Verde. Of those, Daillon Livarmonte (one of those born in Holland), property of Serie A Verona but on loan this past season at Casa Pia in Portugal, has scored seven goals in 20 national team appearances, and regional observers remain impressed with veteran coach \u201cBubista\u201d Brito, who has forged much camaraderie and fighting spirit within his troops who play their club football all around the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After navigating thru the Tricky CAF qualifiers, Cape Verde cannot be dismissed from having a chance to qualify for the knockout phase, given that eight third-place sides will advance. Spain seems out of reach, as might Uruguay, though a win over the Saudis might be enough to get an invite to the Round of 32.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">World Cup Group H Recommended Wagers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Spain<\/strong>: Best Bet &#8211; Exactly 9 points in group play at +110. Bigger Price Watch &#8211; To make final +225, to win World Cup +450, Spain leading scorer (must win) Ferran Torres at +450.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Uruguay<\/strong>: Best Bet &#8211; To go out at Round of 32 at -110. Bigger Price Watch &#8211; Uruguay leading scorer (must win) Federico Valverde at +500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Saudi Arabia<\/strong>: Best Bet &#8211; To finish bottom of group +125.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cape Verde<\/strong>: Best Bet &#8211; To qualify for the Round of 32 at +162. Bigger Price Watch &#8211; Cape Verde top scorer (must win) Dailon Livramento at +500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/picks\/soccer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Soccer Picks and Predictions Today<\/a> at WagerTalk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WagerTalk is the largest picks site online offering <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/free-sports-picks\/english-premier-league\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/free-sports-picks\/nba\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">soccer FREE PICKS<\/a> every week as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/picks\/soccer\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/picks\/nba\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">premium paid soccer picks<\/a> from expert professional sports bettors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><div  style=\"display: block; margin: 0px auto;\"  id=\"_ytid_19237\"  width=\"870\" height=\"489\"  data-origwidth=\"870\" data-origheight=\"489\" data-facadesrc=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/N1BZNSyAFSk?enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=1&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;rel=0&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;hl=en_US&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;disablekb=0&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__ epyt-facade  epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-spai-excluded=\"true\" class=\"epyt-facade-poster skip-lazy\" loading=\"lazy\"  alt=\"Can Anyone Stop Spain? | Group H Betting Preview | 2026 World Cup Predictions\"  src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/N1BZNSyAFSk\/maxresdefault.jpg\"  \/><button class=\"epyt-facade-play\" aria-label=\"Play\"><svg data-no-lazy=\"1\" height=\"100%\" version=\"1.1\" viewBox=\"0 0 68 48\" width=\"100%\"><path class=\"ytp-large-play-button-bg\" d=\"M66.52,7.74c-0.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79,.13,34,0,34,0S12.21,.13,6.9,1.55 C3.97,2.33,2.27,4.81,1.48,7.74C0.06,13.05,0,24,0,24s0.06,10.95,1.48,16.26c0.78,2.93,2.49,5.41,5.42,6.19 C12.21,47.87,34,48,34,48s21.79-0.13,27.1-1.55c2.93-0.78,4.64-3.26,5.42-6.19C67.94,34.95,68,24,68,24S67.94,13.05,66.52,7.74z\" fill=\"#f00\"><\/path><path d=\"M 45,24 27,14 27,34\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/div><span itemprop=\"video\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/VideoObject\"><meta itemprop=\"embedUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/N1BZNSyAFSk\"><meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Can Anyone Stop Spain? | Group H Betting Preview | 2026 World Cup Predictions\"><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"Soccer betting expert Bruce Marshall is here with a World Cup Betting Breakdown! Check out his analysis, best bets, predictions, and more for Groups H and Team Spain in this summer&#039;s upcoming World Cup! 00:00 Introduction &amp; World Cup All-Access 00:50 Group H 02:03 Team Spain 06:51 Spain Bets &amp; Props \u26bd 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H Preview | Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia &amp; Cape Verde The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and Group H features an intriguing mix of international soccer powers and emerging nations. Follow all the action as Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde battle for advancement to the knockout stage. Group H matches will be played in Atlanta, Miami, Houston, and Zapopan during the group stage. \ud83c\udf0e Group H Teams \u2022 Spain \u2022 Uruguay \u2022 Saudi Arabia \u2022 Cape Verde \ud83c\udfdf\ufe0f Key Group H Venues \u2022 Mercedes-Benz Stadium \u2013 Atlanta, Georgia \u2022 Hard Rock Stadium \u2013 Miami Gardens, Florida \u2022 NRG Stadium \u2013 Houston, Texas \u2022 Estadio Akron \u2013 Zapopan, Mexico \ud83d\udcfa How to Watch United States: \u2022 FOX \u2022 FS1 \u2022 FOX Sports App and streaming platforms carrying FOX networks International viewing options vary by country and broadcaster. \ud83d\udcb0 Current Group H Winner Odds \u2022 Spain: -450 \u2022 Uruguay: +500 \u2022 Saudi Arabia: +2500 \u2022 Cape Verde: +5000 \ud83c\udfc6 Current 2026 World Cup Winner Odds \u2022 Spain: +420 to +450 \u2022 Uruguay: +4000 \u2022 Saudi Arabia: +50000 \u2022 Cape Verde: +100000 \ud83d\udcc5 Featured Group H Schedule June 15 \u2022 Spain vs Cape Verde \u2013 Atlanta \u2022 Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay \u2013 Miami June 21 \u2022 Spain vs Saudi Arabia \u2013 Atlanta \u2022 Uruguay vs Cape Verde \u2013 Miami June 26 \u2022 Final Group H Matchday \u2013 Houston and Zapopan \ud83d\udd25 Interesting Facts About the 2026 FIFA World Cup \u2022 The 2026 tournament is the largest World Cup in history with 48 participating nations. \u2022 A record 104 matches will be played from June 11 through July 19. \u2022 This is the first World Cup ever hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. \u2022 The tournament introduces 12 groups of four teams, with the top two teams and the eight best third-place finishers advancing to the Round of 32. \u2022 Mexico becomes the first nation to host World Cup matches in three different tournaments as a host country. Be sure to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for complete FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage, group previews, match breakdowns, betting odds updates, and tournament news throughout the summer. #FIFAWorldCup #WorldCup2026 #Spain #Uruguay #SaudiArabia #CapeVerde #Football #Soccer #WorldCupBetting #WorldCupPreview #FIFA #WorldCup This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not guarantee results or profits. WagerTalk discusses legal, regulated U.S. sports betting only. Must be 21+ to wager. Please bet responsibly. \ud83d\udc4d Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to WagerTalk TV; \ud83d\udd14 CLICK the Bell and never miss an episode! \ud83e\udd11 Free Sports Picks: https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/free-sports-picks \ud83d\udcca Live Odds: https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/odds \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f News: https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news \ud83d\udc4d Stay connected with WagerTalk \ud83d\udcfa YouTube: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/tv \ud83d\udc4d Facebook: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/fb \ud83d\udc26 Twitter: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/tw \ud83d\udcf8 Instagram: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/ig \ud83d\udcf0 Reddit: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/rd \u2764\ufe0f iHeart Radio: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/iheart \ud83c\udf4e Apple Podcasts: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/ap \ud83d\udccc Pinterest: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/pin\"><meta itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/N1BZNSyAFSk\/0.jpg\"><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT10M40S\"><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2026-06-04T23:00:18Z\"><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WagerTalk Live Odds Screen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WagerTalk\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/odds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">live odds screen<\/a> features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track moneylines, runlines, totals and betting percentages for a variety of domestic and international leagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>**************************************************<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?<\/span> Go beyond the anytime touchdown scorer picks!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>Latest Betting Odds and Public Action: <\/strong>Vegas lines updated in real time, including who the public is betting on<\/span> and anytime touchdown scorer odds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Last Minute Handicapping Advice<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">: Check out our extensive library of <\/span><a style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/sports-betting-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">handicapping tips<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> and advice from professional Vegas handicappers (we also recommend taking the time to look over our <\/span><a style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/videos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sports betting tips video library<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Want an expert opinion?<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> Check out the latest <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/free-sports-picks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Free Sports Picks<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/picks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Best Bets<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> from our team of expert sports handicappers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Make sure to bookmark all the above!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>World Cup Group H Preview Did you know\u2026In the early 2000s, GoldSheet had a sister publication named European Soccer Weekly?! Long before every European soccer (cough football) match was broadcast in the US on ESPN, Peacock and Paramount, Bruce Marshall and Co. were breaking down the action on the pitch. Bruce shares his thoughts on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":28429,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[137],"tags":[16082,138,220,219,221,16173,1696,16079],"class_list":["post-39171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer","tag-2026-world-cup","tag-soccer","tag-soccer-odds","tag-soccer-picks","tag-soccer-predictions","tag-world-cup-group-h","tag-world-cup-picks","tag-world-cup-predictions"],"basic_html":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">World Cup Group H Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Did you know\u2026In the early 2000s, <a href=\"https:\/\/wt.buzz\/tgs\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/wt.buzz\/tgs\">GoldSheet<\/a> had a sister publication named European Soccer Weekly?! Long before every European soccer (cough football) match was broadcast in the US on ESPN, Peacock and Paramount, Bruce Marshall and Co. were breaking down the action on the pitch. Bruce shares his thoughts on World Cup Group H, which features a pair of heavyweights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">World Cup Group H Odds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>Team<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Win the Group<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Round of 16<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Win the Tournament<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Spain<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">-425<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">-370<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+470<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Uruguay<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+410<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+130<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+6000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Saudi Arabia<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+4000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+800<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+250000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cape Verde<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+5500<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+1600<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">+250000<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Odds above courtesy of FanDuel as of June 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Discussions about World Cup Group H begin and end with Spain, the Euro 2024 holders and winners of four international tourneys since 2008. The success two years ago in Germany still resonates, and after a comfy UEFA qualifying campaign \u201cLa Furia Roja\u201d is rated a top choice by several outlets to win the World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The riches at Luis de la Fuente\u2019s disposal are bountiful, bolstered by a style change instituted by de la Fuente himself a few years ago in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. Specifically, no longer \u201cpassing for passing\u2019s sake\u201d or the mesmserizing \u201ctike-taka\u201d as perfected in the three straight tourney crowns between 2008-12 featuring the Barcelona influence and interpreted masterfully by midfield magicians Xavi and Iniesta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201cnew\u201d Spain would attack more directly and not concern itself as much with simple possession; de la Fuente, who coached most of the side during their U-20 and U-23 careers, correctly gauged the talent on hand. The \u201cnew Spain\u201d would attack with electricity on the flanks in particular, with new-found electric pace and the sort of distorting elements to pull apart oppositing defenses in a much different manner than the Xavi-Iniesta sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>At the Euros, de la Fuente made the most of Nico Williams and especially teenage sensation Lamine Yamal on the wings, their ability to stretch defenses suddenly pulling apart the opposition and creating the lanes for several big goals, including Mikel Oyarzabal\u2019s beauty in the final minutes to pip England at Berlin in the 2024 final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>At full strength, Spain has enough petrol to outscore anyone in the field, but that\u2019s also the kicker, as Williams endured an injury-marred campaign at Athletic Bilbao, and Lamine Yamal\u2019s pulled hamstring sidelined him for the final month-plus of the Liga campaign at Barcelona. Add in midfield ace Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d\u2019Or winner who has has numberous injury woes the past two seasons at Man City, and the seeds for Spain undershooting its objectives are planted\u2026we'll see if they bloom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>All three are available and on the squad for the World Cup, but de la Fuente is also playing it carefully, not starting any of that trio in the recent warm-up friendly vs. Iran. If all hands are on deck and pistons firing, Spain looks the best team this summer and a worthy favorite\u2026but de la Fuente is also crossing his fingers that his top charges are going to be ready to go at full-speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Uruguay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Always capable of causing a stir, the two-time champions (a long time ago..1930 &amp; 1950) can become a nuisance with their trademark physical style, and veteran gaffer Marcelo Bielsa remains a crafty tactician. \u201cEl Loco\u201d however hasn\u2019t endured a smooth ride lately, as vet striker Luis Suarez was left off the squad and caused a stir in Montevideo because of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, the CONMEBOL qualifying campaign had many highs and lows, with the highs mostly coming early (such as home wins over Brazil and Argentina) and lows later on, with only one win in a nine-match stretch that included a four-match goalless run. A 5-1 friendly loss to USA last November might have been the deepest slip into the abyss, though results since suggest something of a recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The clear second-choice in this group behind Spain, Uruguay could well find itself in the knockout phase with an immediate match in the Round of 32 vs. old-enemy Argentina. Bielsa will be looking toward Real Madrid\u2019s Federico Valverde, scorer of a hat-trick in the Champions League vs. Man City at the Bernabeu in March, to supply the magical moments, but a deep run thru the KO phase seems unlikely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saudi Arabia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s hard to remember that the Sauids actually beat Argentina in the group phase of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, though the campaign fizzled aftterwards, making it 0-for-5 to qualify for the knockout phase at Copa Mundial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>This will be a third straight World Cup appearance, however, and the mastermind of the Aregntina upset, French coach Herve Renard, returned to the fold after Roberto Mancini\u2019s 14-month stint fizzled in late 2024. Yet qualifying thru AFC (Asia) was hardly straightforward, taking the long route thru a fourth round, a laborious journey finally secured by edging out Indonesia and Iraq on goals scored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>On the pitch, the Saudis look a good bet to be involved in lower-scoring affairs, beginning with their June 15 match vs. Uruguay in Miami; in the last 12 qualifiers, the Sauids bagged only 13 goals, though shipping only 10 goals in the same span.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Much of the starting XI comes from the Saudi Pro League, but Cristiano Ronaldo isn\u2019t one of them. Chance at qualification for the knockout phase likely comes down to the last group match vs . Cape Verde in Houston on June 27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cape Verde<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>First-time World Cup participants with the third-smallest population (behind only Iceland and fellow 2026 World Cup debutante Curacao), Cape Verde seems one of the entries to have been able to benefit from the expanded (to 48) World Cup field and extra qualifying spots awarded to CAF (Africa). The \u201cBlue Sharks\u201d seem more likely to add some color to the festivities than set the tourney alight on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Still, CAF observers suggest the side could provide a surprise or two, with a far-flung diaspora of players born in places like France, Portugal, and the Netherlands, with ancestral roots tracing to Cape Verde. Of those, Daillon Livarmonte (one of those born in Holland), property of Serie A Verona but on loan this past season at Casa Pia in Portugal, has scored seven goals in 20 national team appearances, and regional observers remain impressed with veteran coach \u201cBubista\u201d Brito, who has forged much camaraderie and fighting spirit within his troops who play their club football all around the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>After navigating thru the Tricky CAF qualifiers, Cape Verde cannot be dismissed from having a chance to qualify for the knockout phase, given that eight third-place sides will advance. Spain seems out of reach, as might Uruguay, though a win over the Saudis might be enough to get an invite to the Round of 32.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">World Cup Group H Recommended Wagers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spain<\/strong>: Best Bet - Exactly 9 points in group play at +110. Bigger Price Watch - To make final +225, to win World Cup +450, Spain leading scorer (must win) Ferran Torres at +450.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Uruguay<\/strong>: Best Bet - To go out at Round of 32 at -110. Bigger Price Watch - Uruguay leading scorer (must win) Federico Valverde at +500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Saudi Arabia<\/strong>: Best Bet - To finish bottom of group +125.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cape Verde<\/strong>: Best Bet - To qualify for the Round of 32 at +162. Bigger Price Watch - Cape Verde top scorer (must win) Dailon Livramento at +500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/picks\/soccer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Soccer Picks and Predictions Today<\/a> at WagerTalk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>WagerTalk is the largest picks site online offering <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/free-sports-picks\/english-premier-league\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/free-sports-picks\/nba\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">soccer FREE PICKS<\/a> every week as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/picks\/soccer\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/picks\/nba\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">premium paid soccer picks<\/a> from expert professional sports bettors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<iframe src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/N1BZNSyAFSk?origin=https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com'><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WagerTalk Live Odds Screen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>WagerTalk\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/odds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">live odds screen<\/a> features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track moneylines, runlines, totals and betting percentages for a variety of domestic and international leagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>**************************************************<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?<\/span> Go beyond the anytime touchdown scorer picks!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Make sure to bookmark all the above!<\/em><\/p>\n","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39171"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39192,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39171\/revisions\/39192"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}