Spain vs Peru
World Cup 2026 favourites Spain are set to complete their fine-tuning on Tuesday in an international friendly Peru at the Estadio Cuauhtemoc in Puebla City in Mexico.
Luis de La Fuente’s squad is ready to go, and will start their campaign on Monday 15th June with a gentle opener against the minnows of Cape Verde and, with genuine respect to the new boys, we might need an abacus to keep count of the score there! And La Roja’s last warm-up opponents will not provide the toughest of examinations.
Peru failed to qualify for the World Cup, finishing ninth in the CONMEBOL South American table, and their fans will watch the World Cup 2026 highlights in their own homes. But it will be a useful workout for both sides, with decidedly different objectives.
Talking Points
Fuente will treat Lamal with great care
In a group alongside Uruguay, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, La Roja are fully expected to coast through the first phase, and the pre-tournament World Cup 2026 betting odds have consistently held Luis de la Fuente’s team as the favourites to land the trophy for the second time, first taking the World crown in 2010. Spain will have an eye on England, as well as France, Brazil and the reigning champions of Argentina.
The Roja boss has a deep squad and he will need his best players fit for the knockout phases; which means we are highly unlikely to see Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal line up against the Peruvians. The 18-year-old winger has been nursing a hamstring problem which kept him out of the end of the Blaugrana’s La Liga campaign, having aggravated it during a win over Celta Vigo in April and he’s been in the treatment room for six weeks.
Yamal is nearing fitness, but he will be treated carefully and was one of a number of first-choice players missing as Spain drew 1-1 with Iraq on Thursday. Barcelona midfielder Pedri sat that game out too and he may also be saved until the serious business starts next week. The 23-year-old has enjoyed a brilliant campaign and will be pivotal to La Roja’s hopes over the next five weeks. Another Barca star, Ferran Torres, scored Spain’s goal against Iraq and he is likely to start again as he pushes for a place against Cape Verde, while Atletico Madrid winger Alex Baena was also lively in a generally lacklustre performance for the team.
De La Fuente will look for a little more from his players on Tuesday and that is not good news for Peru.
Peru’s time for a reset
With World Cup qualification hopes turned to dust Los Incas changed their manager at the end of January, and new boss Mano Menezes was appointed on a four-year contract. The 63 year old Brazil born coach has been around the block, managing Corinthians and the Selecao in a 33-year career, largely in South America but with a year in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr.
Now, as Peru boss Menezes has the task of bringing through new players and helping a nation which has been in the doldrums, with just one win over the last 12 months, to make some progress. The Incas are skippered by goalkeeper Pedro Gallese who has earned 125 caps over a 12-year international career and he will lead the team into battle against La Roja, while right back Oliver Sonne who has been on loan at Sparta Prague from Burnley, is a player to watch; Sonne is a skilful operator who likes to get forward and has an eye for goal. Menezes is hoping to blood a new generation of goalscorers for a team with problems in that area, with just five goals in eight outings last year, two of those in the solitary win in a friendly with Bolivia.
The attack unit of Kenji Cabrera, Adrian Ugarriza, Jhonny Vidales and Bassco Soyer have 12 caps between them and just one goal, scored by 19-year-old Gil Vicente star Soyer. Let’s see how they fare against La Roja.
History
Peru have been at the World Cup finals five times, reaching the last eight in 1970 and 1978 and last qualifying in 2018, while Spain have been at the finals 17 times, winning in 2010.
Los Incas have played twice this calendar year, drawing with Honduras and losing to Senegal, while Spain have won one and drawn two, and were unbeaten in 2025.
These two teams have met twice before, in friendlies in 2004 and 2008, with La Roja edging three-goal matches on both occasions.
Betting Tip
The World Cup is now just five days away and the SBOTOP team is ready and raring to go. It all kicks off on Thursday when Mexico takes on South Africa in the curtain-raiser in Mexico City. In the meantime, let’s make a call on this friendly; and it has to be Spain at a price of 1.35 to win, with Peru out at 16.00 and a Draw at odds of 4.25.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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