Lamine Yamal of Spain celebrates with teammate Rodri after scoring his group’s first aim through the Fifa World Cup 2026 Group H match between Spain and Saudi Arabia at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, June 21, 2026. — AFPSpain defeat Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Group H sport.Yamal opens scoring after 10 minutes of sport.Mikel Oyarzabal scores twice in three minutes.
Lamine Yamal made a goalscoring return for Spain because the European champions obtained their World Cup marketing campaign again on observe with a 4-0 drubbing of Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Yamal, 18, opened the scoring after simply 10 minutes of the Group H sport in Atlanta to place La Roja on the right track for a cushty victory in opposition to an outclassed Saudi group.
Spain had been decided to bounce again after being held to a shock 0-0 draw by lowly Cape Verde of their opening sport final week, when their much-vaunted assault drew a clean.
However with teenaged starlet Yamal making his first begin in two months since recovering from a hamstring drawback, Spain launched an early onslaught that left the Saudis reeling.
Yamal ghosted in on the again submit to tuck away Mikel Oyarzabal’s low cross earlier than Oyarzabal scored twice in three minutes to go away Spain 3-0 up after simply 24 minutes.
Spain bagged their fourth aim on 49 minutes, when Marc Cucurella’s shot was saved by Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais solely to bounce off defender Hassan al-Tambakti into the web.
The win leaves Spain on prime of Group H with 4 factors after two matches.
‘No concern’ for Cape Verde
Cape Verde will try to affix the Spaniards on 4 factors later Sunday after they face Uruguay in Miami, with coach Pedro Leitao Brito, often called “Bubista”, vowing his group will play “without fear”.
“We didn’t come just to take part. We want to play all the matches and to be able to show that we have the level to take on the best teams in the world,” he added.
“Our aim is to play all the games with courage, in an organised way but also without fear.”
Vozinha, the 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper who held Spain at bay with a exceptional efficiency, can be watched by his mom on Sunday after she arrived in Miami on a US visa.
Ana Candida Evora travelled from Cape Verde’s capital Praia after her son tearfully advised reporters she had not been granted a visa in time for the primary sport, however the US State Division has now supplied her with the mandatory doc.
In the meantime, Belgium will once more be with out Jeremy Doku with respiratory issues as they face Iran.
With out the winger, Belgium sputtered to a draw of their opener in opposition to Egypt.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei stated he has been advised US journey restrictions on his group will lastly be eased for his or her third group sport, in opposition to Egypt in Seattle on June 26, however he claimed the remedy they’ve obtained to this point had adversely affected their on-field efficiency.
Regardless of that, Iran stay in competition after drawing 2-2 with New Zealand of their first sport.
Within the different sport within the group on Sunday, Egypt play New Zealand in Vancouver.
Germany advance
On Saturday, Germany booked their place within the knockout rounds with a dramatic injury-time winner in a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast.
It’s the first time since 2014 that Germany have reached the final 32.
Germany’s victory was made even sweeter in a while Saturday as Curacao — the smallest nation by inhabitants ever to qualify for the World Cup with simply 160,000 inhabitants — dug deep to safe a shock 0-0 draw with Ecuador in Kansas Metropolis that ensured the Germans will win Group E with a sport to spare.
In Houston, the Netherlands stayed firmly on the right track for qualification with a 5-1 demolition of Sweden in Group F.
Japan are actually stage on 4 factors with the Dutch after cruising to a cushty 4-0 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico in Saturday’s late match — the 1,000th sport in World Cup historical past.
