Spain decimated Saudi Arabia 4-0 to secure their first win of World Cup 2026 at the second attempt.
Luis de la Fuente’s men were held to a stunning goalless encounter by Cape Verde and their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozhinha in their opening match, but the European champions showed no signs of repeating that here, ripping through their Middle Eastern opponents to move to four points in Group H.
The Euro 2024 winners saw false nine Mikel Oyarzabal net a brace, with his two goals just three minutes apart.
Lamine Yamal made his first start since suffering a hamstring injury that had cast doubts over his participation in Canada, Mexico and the United States this summer.
The teenage sensation opened the scoring in Atlanta, Georgia on 10 minutes, tucking home as he ghosted in at the far post from a low Oyarzabal cross.
The striker turned goalscorer just 11 minutes later, and then he scored his second on 24 minutes, with the Real Sociedad man helping Dani Olmo’s lofted cross-shot home from close range.
It was four with the second half just four minutes old, as Hassan Altambakti put through his own net, to give the Spanish a healthy goal difference going into the final group-stage game against Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay, who face Cape Verde later on Sunday night.
Spain therefore top Group H with four points, and a win for either of the aforementioned sides would draw them level on point with the European champions, although whoever ended matchday two on top would depend on goal difference.
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