Willy Semedo and Garry Rodrigues on the bench for World Cup match

On June 15, 2026, the national team of Cape Verde faced Spain in a Group H match of the FIFA World Cup. Cape Verde players Willy Semedo and Garry Rodrigues were not included in the starting lineup selected by coach Bubista. Both players, who have ties to Cypriot football clubs Omonia and Apollon respectively, began the match on the substitutes' bench. The Spanish team, managed by De La Fuente, started with Unai Simon, Llorente, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella, Rodri, Fabian, Pedri, Ferran, Gavi, and Oyarzabal. Cape Verde's starting eleven consisted of Vozinha, Pina, Borges, Lopes, S. Cabral, Arcanjo, Lenini, Mendes, Monteiro, J. Cabral, and Da Costa. The event took place during the opening match for Cape Verde in the tournament.