Spain left behind the doubts of its debut in the 2026 World Cup and signed a resounding 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia this Sunday in Atlanta, a result that places it provisionally as the leader of Group H and brings it closer to the round of 32.
The great figure of the afternoon was Lamine Yamal. The young Spanish star, just 18 years old, scored his first goal in a World Cup and paved the way for a team that showed a completely different image than the one offered in the goalless draw against Cape Verde in its debut.
Before more than 68,000 spectators at the Atlanta Stadium, the team led by Luis de la Fuente resolved the match in just 23 minutes. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the 10th minute after an assist from Mikel Oyarzabal, who later extended the lead with a double in just three minutes.
The Real Sociedad forward is going through one of the best moments of his career with the Spanish team. With his two goals against Saudi Arabia, he has 14 goals and seven assists in his last 13 games with La Roja.
Spain dominated from start to finish. The high pressure, the rapid circulation of the ball and the mobility of its attackers completely dismantled Saudi Arabia’s defensive approach, which never found answers to stop the Spanish offensive gale.
The fourth goal came at the beginning of the second half when a shot by Marc Cucurella ended up being deflected into his own goal by defender Hassan Altambakti, definitively sealing the match.
Lamine meets expectations
After leaving good feelings in the minutes he played against Cape Verde, Lamine Yamal responded with a brilliant performance from the start. The Barcelona winger was a constant headache for the Saudi defense thanks to his speed, ability to unbalance and read the game.
His first goal in a World Cup was celebrated with emotion by the young footballer, who kissed the grass and pointed to the sky before receiving a standing ovation from the Spanish fans present in the stadium.
Spain regains confidence
The win represents an important emotional boost for a team that had been questioned after its unexpected draw in the debut. Luis de la Fuente introduced four changes to the starting lineup and the response was immediate.
With four points in two days, Spain will arrive strengthened for its decisive confrontation against Uruguay on June 26 in Guadalajara, a match that could define the leadership of Group H.
In addition to the result, the collective performance and the level shown by figures such as Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo and Marc Cucurella allow La Roja to regain the illusion of fighting for the world title.
The victory also had a special meaning for Luis de la Fuente, who celebrated his 65th birthday watching his team offer the best version since the start of the tournament.
