THE CONTENDERS - Yamal and Co have questions to answer

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off yesterday and while the world was enraptured by the beauty of the globe’s most popular game, Spain, a team known for beautiful football but underwhelming results — except for 2010 when they finally made good on their promise — are again boasting a host of stars with unbridled potential. There is no doubt they deserve their world number-two ranking but, can Lamine Yamal and Co, make that promise count … when it counts?

Spain

The Spanish dominated the football world between 2008 and 2012 with three consecutive major international titles using their tiki-taka, possession-heavy style of play. and are looking to return to the summit once again.

Led by a core of young creative talents backed by their veteran mature foundation, Spain, the reigning UEFA Euro champions, will be confident they are to become world champions once again and have both the talent and the know-how to do so.

Players to Watch: Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Pedri

Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde

FIFA RANKINGS

1.     Argentina

2.     Spain

3.     France

4.     England

5.     Portugal

6.     Brazil

7.     Morocco

8.     Netherlands

9.     Belgium

10. Germany