Spain lead 4-0 after own goal as Saudi Arabia trail at World Cup

Spain took a commanding 4-0 lead over Saudi Arabia in Group H at the FIFA World Cup on 21 June 2026. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring after 10 minutes, followed by two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal inside the first half-hour. A 49th-minute own goal by Hassan Al-Tambakti extended the deficit before the interval. Saudi Arabia struggled to contain Spain’s relentless pressure throughout the opening 45 minutes. Al-Tambakti’s miskick from a corner allowed Cucurella to cross for Oyarzabal, who redirected the ball into the net. The Saudis conceded a second yellow card to Mohamed Kanno in the 60th minute, compounding their difficulties. Spain’s attacking trio of Yamal, Oyarzabal and Pedri dominated proceedings. Yamal’s pace and creativity repeatedly exposed the Saudi defence, while Oyarzabal capitalized on defensive errors to complete his hat-trick. The Spanish side, managed by Luis de la Fuente, showed no signs of easing off after the break. Saudi Arabia’s defensive frailties were exposed early. Salem Al-Dawsari received the first yellow card of the match in the 30th minute for a foul on Porro. The Saudis also struggled to build any meaningful attacks, with goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais forced into multiple saves. Luis de la Fuente emphasized the need for a win ahead of the match. “We must win,” he stated. “We are not nervous or afraid. We were a bit shocked by the criticism after the opening match, but maybe that motivates us. We live in a bubble here. You don’t hear everything that is said. And I respect all opinions.”

Spain turn to teenager Lamine Yamal after slow World Cup start

The second half saw further substitutions for both teams. Dani Olmo and Álex Baena were replaced by Ferran Torres and Yéremy Pino for Spain, while Saudi Arabia introduced Mohamed Kanno and Abdullah Al-Hamdan. Despite the changes, Spain maintained their dominance. Spain’s victory followed a disappointing 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in their opening match. De la Fuente’s side responded emphatically, with Yamal and Oyarzabal leading the line. The result kept La Roja’s hopes of progressing from the group alive. At the Atlanta Stadium, the Spanish players celebrated their commanding lead. Al-Tambakti’s own goal proved decisive, while Saudi Arabia’s defence crumbled under sustained pressure. The match ended 4-0, a scoreline that reflected Spain’s superiority.

Cape Verde draws 2-2 with Uruguay in World Cup Group H

Saudi Arabia, managed by Georgios Donis, will now regroup for their next fixture. Their campaign began with a 1-1 draw against Uruguay, leaving them with one point from two matches. A loss to Spain leaves their progression hopes hanging by a thread. The win marked a strong recovery for Spain after their opening setback. With two matches remaining, La Roja will aim to build on this performance to secure a place in the knockout stages.