Cape Verde Islands arrive ranked 42nd in Sportsvyn's Power Rankings with a score of 4.33, carrying a squad built heavily through midfield — eleven midfielders compete for starting roles against just four designated attackers on the roster sheet. That positional imbalance raises an immediate structural question: how does the front line take shape when the attacker pool is this narrow? Logan Costa and Stopira anchor the defensive eight, but the four-man attacking group of Jovane Cabral, Nuno da Costa, Gilson Benchimol, and D. Livramento represents the thinnest position on the roster.

Their Group H opener arrives June 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium against Spain — ranked first in Sportsvyn's Power Rankings with a score of 9.16, the highest-ranked opponent any side in the field faces on matchday one. Playing away against the top-ranked side, the match begins to test whether Cape Verde's midfield-heavy construction can absorb pressure and create enough from its limited attacker pool to threaten. With eleven midfielders and only four attackers, can that roster shape generate the attacking output this fixture demands?