Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal were the stars of the game as Spain finally announced their arrival at the 2026 World Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia.
The pressure was on for La Roja to not only win, but to do well after drawing with Cape Verde in their Group H opener on Monday.
It was one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history – but Spain answered any critics with a display of quick passing, attacking football and plenty of goals.
Yamal returned to the starting XI after an electric start last week and quickly showed why he is one of the best players in the world. He poked home Oyarzabal’s low ball, which was his first World Cup goal on his first World Cup debut.
He told DAZN after the game he watched the last tournament in 2022 in his class: “To be able to score here with my mother and my family at home is a dream come true.”
Oyarzabal’s second strike quickly put Spain out – all before the first hydration break in the 25th minute. His first was to volley home the back of the net, before he finished with purpose two minutes later.
He should have completed his hat-trick after collecting a poor back ball from Mohammed Al Owais, but his first-time effort went off the top of the bar.
Oyarzabal and Yamal were replaced at half-time, a smart move from Luis de la Fuente – who celebrated his 65th birthday on Sunday – with more tests to come.
Although Spain was not so intense after the break, they continued to dominate, but it was unfortunate that they added a fourth goal. Marc Cucurella’s first attempt from a corner was well saved by Al Owais, but the rebound hit Hassan Al Tambakti and into the net.
Spain’s Marc Cucurella reacts after Saudi Arabia’s Hassan Altambakti scores an own goal, making it 4-0.
La Roja thought they had a fifth in added time as Ferran Torres turned home Fabian Ruiz’s cross. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was ruled out for offside.
It puts Spain at the top of Group H ahead of the game between Uruguay and Cape Verde at 11pm on Sunday, while Saudi Arabia is at the top.
Yamal inspires sharp Spain to declare victory in the World Cup
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith:
Lamine Yamal’s electrifying debut in this match raised Spain’s standards and put them in a position to do well. He gave the spark that was missing against Cape Verde.
His goal after just 10 minutes was not one of his usual, beautiful masterpieces. But the end of poaching at the back suggests that this is a player honored to add significant goal numbers to his incredible creativity and artistry. It was his first World Cup goal but it won’t be his last.
Rodri and Lamine Yamal of Spain celebrate against Saudi Arabia
Yamal has risen to that challenge at club level and is now enjoying being his country’s top man. Dribbles, crosses, shots – he went out of the blocks to deliver all three here. He showed his teammates the way in Atlanta.
By the time Yamal hit the net, Spain had already completed 39 passes. No team in the competition has done that so far. They became the first country since Germany in 2014 to score three goals within 25 minutes.
There is a level running in this Spanish team but on Sunday we saw how the star can encourage those around him to reach the levels he needs to reach in order to show his best.
Highlights from Atlanta…
1: Lamine Yamal takes part within seconds as Abdulellah Al Amri nods home his right-wing cross.
11: GOAL! Yamal scored his first World Cup goal with a tight angled finish.
21: GOAL! Spain got a disastrous second as Oyarzabal slotted home.
23: GOAL! After two minutes, Oyarzabal scored again when he turned the ball near the goalkeeper.
36: Oyarzabal curls an effort over the crossbar chasing his hat-trick after a mistake by Al Owais.
49: GOAL! Spain extended their lead to four goals with a goal by Hassan Al Tambakti.
90+2: GOAL! Torres converts for Spain’s fifth, but there is a VAR review for offside.
90+5: NO GOAL! After a lengthy VAR review, Torres’ goal was ruled out.
Yamal: Spain has arrived now
Spain the scorer Lamine Yamal to DAZN: “That was the plan, to play a half and rest, but above all to help the team. The first game was not ours, it was different, but now we are here and we want more.
“It was the way we wanted it to be – being 3-0 up gave me a break so it was good. Drawing a game that you know you have to win sticks. It made us think a lot, and it helped us approach the game the way we wanted to.”
Speaking about his striker, De la Fuente added DAZN: “Lamine is in a good condition to play full games now.
“And what can we say about Oyarzabal? He was facing a small problem – you can’t share everything – but he always gives an exceptional performance.
“Today was an important step in the future. Lamine is in good shape, and it’s good to strip him like that, leaving him hungry for more.”
De la Fuente: We needed a little more intensity
Spanish manager Luis de la Fuente to DAZN: “We played an excellent first half and a good second half as well. Above all, this allows us to keep our rhythm and face the important games that we still have to face. Uruguay will be a very difficult and difficult game.
“We checked it [the Cape Verde game] and the players and we all agreed that we need to stand up and be strong. You could see it in our shots – from the first minute we choked the enemy and drove them back into their box. We are very happy this way, but we have to keep growing and improving. “
In pictures: Spain beat Saudi
Your unwanted goal streak continues after you beat Al-Tambakti
Sky Sports’ Ron Walker:
With an average of almost a goal every four games, the 2026 World Cup has been more unlucky for defenders than any final in the competition’s history.
Hassan Al-Tambakti’s unnecessary addition was the eighth goal of the tournament – already more than any previous World Cup 2018, with the group stage not yet over.
