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2026 World Cup Day Five Preview: Spain and Belgium Kick Off Their Campaigns

The fifth day of the 2026 World Cup brings fresh action as some of the tournament’s top teams step onto the pitch. After Sunday's exciting matches, Monday looks set to continue the drama.

Germany recovered from a slow start to defeat Curaçao 7–1, delivering the tournament’s most dominant display so far. The Netherlands and Japan played out an engaging 2–2 draw, while Côte d’Ivoire edged Ecuador 1–0 in a close contest. Sweden also impressed with a 5–1 victory over Tunisia, showing clinical finishing.

Spain Opens Against Cabo Verde

One of the favorites this year, Spain, will begin their journey against debutants Cabo Verde. This match takes place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, kicking off at 12 p.m. ET. Spain is widely expected to control the game easily given the vast gap in FIFA rankings between the two nations—65 places separate them.

Fans might expect a result similar to Germany’s large win earlier in the tournament or perhaps even more lopsided if Spain finds its rhythm quickly. Luis de la Fuente’s squad faces a side still finding its footing on the world stage.

Belgium Faces Egypt in Seattle

In Seattle at Lumen Field, Belgium meets Egypt at 3 p.m. ET. Though Belgium’s golden generation is fading, they still carry hopes for a strong run. Key players include veteran stars Thibaut Courtois and Kevin De Bruyne, alongside Manchester City's Jérémy Doku. Romelu Lukaku, now 33, may take a secondary role this summer.

Egypt will rely heavily on Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who remains uncertain about his future but is crucial to Egypt’s strategy. Ranked 29th globally, Egypt poses a real challenge and could disrupt Belgium’s plans.

Saudi Arabia Takes On Uruguay in Miami Gardens

At Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Saudi Arabia plays Uruguay at 6 p.m. ET. Saudi Arabia has made headlines since 2022 by investing heavily in their domestic league, attracting big names. Now the focus shifts to their national team and how much progress they've made.

Uruguay enters as the favorite but Saudi Arabia’s eagerness to prove itself could produce a lively encounter. Federico Valverde leads Uruguay, which is often considered a dark horse in tournaments like this.

Iran Closes Monday’s Action Against New Zealand

The last match of the day is at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, where Iran faces New Zealand at 9 p.m. ET (early hours BST next day). Iran, ranked 20th by FIFA, will try to back up their ranking and avoid distractions from off-field issues. Veteran striker Mehdi Taremi is central to their attack.

New Zealand, meanwhile, sees this fixture as a key opportunity to secure points. Tim Payne, their 32-year-old right back and social media figure, will be under the spotlight.

Broadcast Information for Monday’s Matches

  • Spain vs. Cabo Verde: FOX Network, fuboTV, Telemundo (US); ITV1, ITVX (UK); TSN+ (Canada); ViX (Mexico)
  • Belgium vs. Egypt: FOX Network, fuboTV, Telemundo (US); BBC One, BBC iPlayer (UK); TSN+ (Canada); ViX (Mexico)
  • Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay: FOX Network, fuboTV, Telemundo (US); ITV1, ITVX (UK); TSN+, CTV (Canada); ViX (Mexico)
  • Iran vs. New Zealand: FOX Network, fuboTV, Telemundo (US); BBC One, BBC iPlayer (UK); TSN+, RDS (Canada); ViX (Mexico)

The day promises a mix of established powers and emerging sides battling it out on multiple fronts. We think Spain and Belgium carry heavy expectations, but surprises may well be on the cards.

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