Spain Reached the World Cup Final After Drawing With Cape Verde in Their opener
After drawing with Cape Verde in their opening match, Luis de la Fuente's Spain made it to the 2026 World Cup final. Here's how they turned it around.
A goalless draw against Cape Verde in the opener. The critics resurfacing. The fans full of doubt. That was Spain's reality at the start of the 2026 World Cup — and yet Luis de la Fuente's side are in the final.
La Furia entered the tournament as one of the title favourites. European champions and armed with a squad brimming with talent, expectations were sky-high. The early stumble against the Cape Verdeans reopened old questions: does this team really know how to perform when the pressure is real?
The answer came on the pitch. Game by game, Spain silenced the critics and marched all the way to the final. According to Trivela, it was one of the most remarkable turnarounds of the tournament.
Golmetria's model had already spotted the potential in this run: before the tournament kicked off, Spain's probability of winning the title stood at 49% — the highest of any participant. Now, with a place in the final secured, their chances of lifting the trophy remain extremely high. Notably, the market was far more sceptical, pricing Spain at just 15.8% — a massive gap compared to what the model was signalling.
Spain proved that a stumble on matchday one is not a death sentence. They proved that a quality squad, when properly managed, finds a way. And now they are 90 minutes — or more — away from becoming world champions for the second time.
Who will be waiting on the other side of the final? And can La Furia keep their cool when the trophy is within reach?