DALLAS — Lamine Yamal scored in the 10th minute on his first start, as Spain crushed Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Group H of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday (June 21) at 11:00 p.m. WIB at Atlanta Stadium.
The lopsided win restored Spain’s position after its opening draw with Cape Verde. For the 2010 world champions, this was not just about three points. It was about pride.
Yamal Makes an Immediate Impact
Coach Luis de la Fuente had little choice. Yamal had previously come off the bench when Spain were held to a 0-0 draw, and the result did not change. So he was handed a start against Saudi Arabia, even though he had only just recovered from a hamstring injury.
The answer came quickly. In the 10th minute, Mikel Oyarzabal’s low cross from the left was not cleared properly by Saudi defender Hassan Al Tambakti. Yamal pounced at the far post and steered the ball home.
That goal was not ordinary. Yamal became only the second player under 19 to score the opening goal in World Cup history, after Brazil’s Pele in 1958. The 18-year-old kept Saudi fullback Moteb Al-Harbi guessing throughout the first half.
Oyarzabal Scores Twice in Three Minutes
Spain did not stop at one goal. In the 22nd minute, Oyarzabal fired a low shot that goalkeeper Mohammad Al-Owais could not reach after a corner kick was not cleared. It was 2-0.
Three minutes later, Oyarzabal struck again. He calmly finished Dani Olmo’s layoff at the far post for Spain’s third goal inside 25 minutes. Oyarzabal also became the second player in World Cup history to be directly involved in three goals within the first 25 minutes of a match, after Hungary’s Laszlo Fazekas in 1982. He nearly had a hat trick too, but one effort hit the crossbar just before halftime.
Both key players were taken off at the break. But the second half began with a fourth goal. In the 49th minute, Marc Cucurella’s powerful shot was parried by Al-Owais, the ball rebounded off Al Tambakti and rolled into the net. Spain 4-0.
Second Half Controlled, But Less Dangerous
Spain eased off in the second half. Ferran Torres, who came on as a substitute, had a clear chance, but his shot drifted wide. Saudi Arabia’s only real threat came from Abdullah Al Hamdan, 10 minutes from full time, and it produced no goal.
Torres did score in stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. The score remained 4-0.
Spain had already taken 17 shots in the first 45 minutes alone. Total dominance. No doubt about it.
Group H Standings
| Pos | Team | Played | W | D | L | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 4 |
| 2 | Uruguay | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 3 | Cape Verde | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Saudi Arabia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -4 | 0 |
Saudi Arabia is now in a tight spot. Georgios Donis’ side must beat Cape Verde in its final match on June 26, 2026, if it wants to avoid a sixth group-stage exit since the 1994 World Cup. Cape Verde, which has drawn twice, also needs points to secure a place in the next round.
Spain still has Uruguay to face in the group decider on the same date. With Yamal already finding his rhythm, La Furia Roja looks ready to go deep in the tournament.
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