The 15

As a public service, over the next few days this site will be providing some information about the nations and teams competing in this year’s FIFA World Cup. We hope you find it educational and enjoyable.

Group G

Belgium

Belgium enter the 2026 World Cup ranked among the world’s top 10, blending aging stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku with a rising new generation led by Jeremy Doku and Charles De Ketelaere. Their squad is deep in midfield and attack but carries real defensive and fitness concerns, making them a dangerous but unpredictable contender.

HC: Rudi Garcia

Captain: Yuri Tielemans

Team Nickname(s): The Red Devils, Chocolate Thunder, The Walloonatics

Egypt

Egypt is Africa’s oldest national football team and has won the Africa Cup of Nations a record seven times, The team has made three appearances in the World Cup and was the first-ever African and Middle Eastern team to make such an appearance. Egypt is aiming to secure their first-ever win at the tournament. The team is known for being robust defensively and relies on the attacking brilliance of Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.

Player-Coach: Hossam Hassam

Captain: Mohamad Salah

Team Nickname: The Pharaohs, Sam Al-Sham

Guilty Pleasure: lean boneless chicken breasts grilled until they are as dry as the Sahara.

Iran

Iran enters the 2026 World Cup with one of its most experienced squads ever, led by coach Amir Ghalenoei and star striker Mehdi Taremi, aiming to finally reach the knockout stage for the first time.

HC: Amir Ghalenoei

Captain: Ehsan Hajsafi

Team Nickname: Team Melli (National Team)

Fun Fact: According to the Iranian Faytuks Network, under the peace deal, every goal scored by Iran will count as two, and they can have as many substitutions as the want.

New Zealand

New Zealand enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Oceania’s lone representative, (provided you don’t count their big neighbor across the Tasman Sea to the west) led by veteran striker Chris Wood and a balanced, experienced 26‑man squad. They face a challenging Group G but arrive with improved overseas depth, a clear tactical identity, and strong leadership.

HC: Darren Bazeley

Captain: Chris Wood

Team Nickname: The All Whites

Oceana at war with Eurasia: Nah

Group H

Spain

Spain is one of eight national teams to have been crowned world champions and has participated in a total of 16 out of 22 FIFA World Cups. They won the 2010 tournament and have qualified consistently since 1978. Spain enters the 2026 World Cup as one of the tournament’s strongest contenders, powered by a young, elite core led by Rodri, Pedri, and rising star Lamine Yamal. Their squad is deep, tactically flexible, and coming off major successes at EURO 2024 and the Olympics. Notably, for the first time, no Real Madrid players are included in the squadron.

HC: Luis de la Fuente

Captain: Rodri

Team Nickname: La Roja (The Red One)

Other single-named players: Gavi, Nuni, Gummo, Nuni II.

Cabo Verde (AKA Cape Verde)

On October 13 2025, Cape Verde qualified for the World Cup for the first time after a 3–0 home win against Eswatini, Doing so, Cape Verde became the second-smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup after Iceland did it in 2018.

HC: Bubista

Captain: Ryan Mendes

Team Nickname(s): Tubarões Azuis (Blue Sharks) Crioulos (Creoles) Os surfistas carecas grelhados (the bald, grilled surfers)

Saudi Arabia

Considered one of Asia’s most successful national teams, Saudi Arabia have won the AFC Asian Cup three times (1984, 1988 and 1996), reached a joint record six Asian Cup finals and have qualified for the FIFA World Cup on seven occasions since debuting at the 1994 tournament.

HC: Giorgios Donis

Captain: Salem Al-Dawsari

Reliable Forward: Pastaah Al-Dente

Team Nickname(s):al-‘Akhḍar, (The Green One) as-Suqūr Al-‘Arabiyyah, (Arabian Falcons) as-Suqūr al-Khoḍur, (The Green Falcons), al-Suqur allati lam tata’allam al-hubut (The Falcons that never Learned to Land)

Uraguay

Uraguay is considered one of the most successful national teams in international competitions and by FIFA as “football’s first global powerhouse.” The roster features 12 midfielders and only three forwards, prioritizing pressing, width, and vertical transitions over a traditional strike partnership.

HC: Marcelo Bielsa

Captain: José María Giménez

Team Nickname(s): La Celeste (The Sky Blue) Los Charrúas (The Chalupas)

World Cup titles: 1930 (hosts), 1950 (“Maracanazo”)

Favorite 1970’s one-hit wonder: Sniff ‘n’ the Tears, “Driver’s Seat”