Spain Spank Saudi Arabia 4-0 To Revive Group H Campaign

ATLANTA, USA – Three-time European champions Spain solidified their claims as bona fide 2026 World Cup contenders by dismantling Saudi Arabia 4-0 in a dominant performance at the Atlanta Stadium. That impressive victory allays fears surrounding their disappointing 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in their opening contest.

Luis de la Fuente’s troops went into Wednesday’s fixture under a spotlight from football analysts around the globe and those associated with Nigeria’s bid as they failed to demonstrate the potency they will surely need later in the tournament following their stalemate.

But a change of tactic and the return of a teenage wonder-kid changed everything for La Roja as they took centre stage at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Spanish gaffer dispensed with a flat back four which featured three midfielders in favour of a more expansive 4-2-3-1, which immediately carved open the spaces the Asians worked hard to compress. Teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal bagged their opener just ten minutes into the encounter, this, his first start since picking up a hamstring problem in April.

The 18-year-old maestro coolly met a lofted cross from Mikel Oyarzabal at the far post with a firm volley after being picked out with precision. With his striking in the 10th minute Yamal joined the legendary Brazil king Pelé, who is the only other player in history aged 18 or below to have opened the scoring in a FIFA World Cup match, against Wales in 1958.

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The Green Falcons from Saudi Arabia who have demonstrated grit in their two earlier games and had no answer to Spain’s quick interplay and intense pressing as within two minutes they were 2-0 behind courtesy of Real Sociedad forward Oyarzabal.

Dani Olmo drove down the left flank before cutting inside and finding Oyarzabal inside the box who beat an outstretched Mohammed Al-Owais with a well placed effort. Just three minutes later Oyarzabal completed the Spanish quick-fire start.

Another raid down the flank saw Spain send in a ball which bounced off a Saudi defender and fell invitingly for Oyarzabal to slam home and establish a three-goal lead inside 25 minutes.

It’s a feat that would surely set a landmark with stats company Opta reporting that since 1966, Oyarzabal is only the second player ever to have scored and or assisted three goals within the first 25 minutes of a FIFA World Cup game.

There was no respite for the beleaguered Saudis in the second half as further attacking pressure from the Spaniards yielded an own-goal from Hassan Altambakti in the 49th minute. The Saudi defender under severe pressure headed over his own goal line under extreme threat from the Spain strike force.

With three points already secured, De la Fuente then introduced fresh legs in the form of Nico Williams and Mikel Merino in place of Yamal and Oyarzabal, with Ferran Torres even having an effort in stoppage time disallowed for a controversial marginal offside by VAR.

There was no denying though that this was entirely Spain’s night as they out-shot their rivals by a margin of 20 to just one in terms of shots on target.

This crucial triumph lifts de la Fuente’s men to the top of Group H table with four points from two matches, meaning the pressure is now on second-placed Uruguayan and Group H outsiders Cape Verde to respond in their respective fixtures.

Saudi Arabia retain their interest in progressing, but a comprehensive victory over one of those group rivals would surely be required.