European champion Spain and South American powerhouse Uruguay highlight World Cup Group H that also includes a Saudi Arabia team which upset Lionel Messi’s Argentina four years ago and tiny newcomer Cape Verde.
The only group match outside of the United States will be the most anticipated: Uruguay vs. Spain in Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 26. The only previous World Cup matchups between the former champions were draws in 1950 and 1990.
Two games will be in Atlanta, both involving Spain. Two others involving Uruguay will be in Miami.
Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia face off in the only group game in Houston.
Spain rebounded from round-of-16 elimination by Morocco at the 2022 World Cup by winning Euro 2024 in Germany. La Roja also won the 2023 Nations League, and was runner-up to Portugal in the 2025 Nations League.
Spain hasn’t gone further than the last 16 in the World Cup since its lone world title in 2010.
The team has been coached by Luis de la Fuente, a former Spain youth coach, since Luis Enrique stepped down after the 2022 World Cup.
A trio of Barcelona players are set to lead the squad. In attack, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal will make his World Cup debut. The 19-year-old Pau Cubarsí is set to command the defense. And Pedri will anchor a midfield that will also likely include Manchester City’s Rodri following a long layoff because of a knee injury.
Cape Verde, with a population of about 500,000, is the third smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup after Iceland and Curacao, which is the smallest ever.
The archipelago of 10 volcanic islands off the western coast of Africa secured one of the nine automatic spots in Africa from a group including continent powerhouse Cameroon and Angola. The Blue Sharks won all five home matches during qualifying without conceding a goal.
The nation has been coached by Pedro Leitao Brito, known as Bubista, since 2020. A former captain and defender for the national team, Bubista used to play in small clubs in Spain and Portugal.
Saudi Arabia will make its third straight World Cup appearance. It made headlines in Qatar in 2022 when it defeated eventual champion Argentina 2-1 in the group stage.
The Saudis boosted the domestic league by buying the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, which has helped to improve the quality of the national team that is coached by Frenchman Hervé Renard.
Renard was in charge at the 2022 World Cup then left to lead France women before returning to lead the Saudi men in 2024.
Saudi Arabia had its best World Cup finish the first time it qualified in 1994, reaching the round of 16 from a group that included the Netherlands, Belgium and Morocco. It hasn't passed the group stage in its five World Cups since then.
The Saudis will host the 2034 World Cup.
Two-time world champion Uruguay was fourth in South American qualifying behind Argentina, Ecuador and Colombia, and ahead of five-time world champion Brazil.
It didn’t get past the group stage four years ago after reaching the quarterfinals in 2018 and the semifinals in 2010.
Uruguay is coached by veteran Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa, who took over in 2023. He has been criticized recently after a run of lackluster results in friendlies, including a 5-1 loss to the United States in November. His squad hasn't won its last four matches.
Its top players include Real Madrid central midfielder Federico Valverde, Barcelona center back Ronald Araujo and Manchester United defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
FILE - Uruguay's coach Marcelo Bielsa waits for the beginning of the World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Peru in Montevideo, Uruguay, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico, File)
FILE - Spain's coach Luis De La Fuente gives instructions during a World Cup qualifying round Group E soccer match between Turkey and Spain at Konya Buyuksehir stadium, in Konya, Turkey, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)
The NBA playoffs don't even officially start until Saturday, but already in this postseason the following things have occurred:
— Charlotte's LaMelo Ball grabbed at Miami's Bam Adebayo's foot, Adebayo fell and was knocked out of the game with a back injury, Ball got the game-winning basket in overtime, and then appeared to strike his own team's mascot in the head during the postgame celebration.
— Portland became the third team in play-in tournament history to rally from more than 10 points down in the fourth quarter to win a game.
— There was the second one-point game in play-in history (Miami has now lost both of those, both on the road).
— Tuesday marked the second day in play-in history where two games were decided by four points or less.
And that was just Day 1 of the postseason.
The Trail Blazers won in Phoenix to secure the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and a first-round matchup with Victor Wembanyama and the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs. Charlotte beat Miami to end the Heat's season and send the Hornets into an elimination game on Friday night against either Orlando or Philadelphia.
The Magic visit the 76ers on Wednesday to decide the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, followed by a West elimination game between Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers.
The play-in ends Friday with two games to decide which teams will take on the No. 1 seeds — Oklahoma City in the West, Detroit in the East. The Warriors-Clippers winner will visit Phoenix to decide which team plays the Thunder, and the Hornets will be at the loser of Wednesday's Orlando-Philadelphia game to decide which team plays the Pistons.
— Avdija scores 41, sends Blazers to playoffs
— Heat furious over how Adebayo got injured
— Amazon Prime has late ‘technical difficulties’
— Doncic, Reaves still out indefinitely, Lakers say
— Thunder hope comforts of home help repeat quest
— Heat equipment manager needs organ transplants
— Natalie Sago the 3rd female ref picked for playoffs
— All eyes on Giannis' future ... after Doc steps down
— The view from Vegas says the West is the best
7:30 p.m. EDT — Orlando at Philadelphia (Prime Video)
10 p.m. EDT — Golden State at LA Clippers (Prime Video)
7:30 p.m. EDT — Charlotte at Orlando-Philadelphia loser (Prime Video)
10 p.m. EDT — Golden State-LA Clippers winner at Phoenix (Prime Video)
1 p.m. EDT — Game 1, Toronto at Cleveland (Prime Video)
3:30 p.m. EDT — Game 1, Minnesota at Denver (Prime Video)
6 p.m. — Game 1, Atlanta at New York (Prime Video)
8:30 p.m. — Game 1, Houston at LA Lakers (ABC)
1 p.m. EDT — Game 1, Orlando-Philadelphia winner at Boston (ABC)
3:30 p.m. EDT — Game 1, TBD at Oklahoma City (ABC)
6:30 p.m. EDT — Game 1, TBD at Detroit (NBC/Peacock)
9 p.m. EDT — Game 1, Portland at San Antonio (NBC/Peacock)
Oklahoma City (+125) is favored to win the NBA title, according to oddsmakers.
The Thunder are followed by San Antonio (+450), Boston (+550), Denver (+1000), Cleveland (+1600) and New York (+2000).
Detroit, the No. 1 seed in the East, is +2000.
The Los Angeles Lakers were +2500 before Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves got hurt; they’re +25000 now.
— Wednesday and Friday: NBA play-in tournament.
— Saturday and Sunday: NBA playoff series openers.
— May 2, 3 or 4: Conference semifinals begin.
— May 10: NBA draft lottery.
— May 10-17: NBA draft combine.
— May 17 or 19: Eastern Conference finals begin on ESPN and ABC.
— May 18 or 20: Western Conference finals begin on NBC and Peacock.
— June 3: Game 1, NBA Finals on ABC. (Other finals dates: June 5, June 8, June 10, June 13, June 16 and June 19).
— June 23: Round 1, NBA draft
— June 24: Round 2, NBA draft
— There has now been at least one game decided by five points or fewer in each of the first seven play-in tournaments. In 33 total play-in games entering Wednesday, 13 have seen a team win by no more than five points.
— Miami's Tyler Herro (178 points) has now passed Washington's Trae Young (166) as the all-time play-in tournament scoring leader. Golden State's Stephen Curry (33.8 per game) is the play-in scoring leader per game, among those with more than one game played in the tournament's history.
— Home teams are now 21-11 in the play-in tournament, not counting Portland’s “home” win over Memphis in the bubble in 2020.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James looks to make a pass during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
