Spain are chasing their first win of the 2026 World Cup after their opening match’s shock against Cape Verde. Now Lamine Yamal is ready from the start – and the pressure is enormous.
La Roja cannot afford another miss. After the surprising draw against Cape Verde, in which the Spaniards struggled to break down a compact defence, the stage is set for another test against a Saudi Arabia that has already shown that they can cause problems for the big nations.
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For Saudi Arabia, this is about history. After an impressive draw against Uruguay in their opening match, they can secure a place in the knockout stages for the first time in a long time.
The question is: Will Spain finally be able to live up to expectations? Or will another World Cup tournament be marked by disappointment for a team that since 2010 has only three wins in the championship?
Lamine Yamal starts – Spain’s new hope
Luis de la Fuente has chosen to focus on the youth. Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old who has taken the world by storm, gets confidence from the start in one of the World Cup’s most crucial matches.
Spain starting line-up:
Spain (4-3-3):
Simon – Porro, Laporte, Cubarsí, Cucurella – Baena, Rodri, Pedri – Olmo, Yamal, Oyarzabal
Substitutes:
Raya, García, Pubill, Grimaldo, García, Llorente, Merino, Ruiz, Gavi, Zubimendi, Torres, Pino, Williams, Muñoz, Iglesias
Saudi Arabia with a squad from the start
Saudi Arabia field a team that combines experience and speed, and they hope to create new drama against one of Europe’s giants.
Saudi Arabia starting line-up (4-3-3):
Alowais – Lajami, Alamri, Altambakti, Abdulhamid – Alharbi, Aldawsari, Aljuwayr – Alkhaibari, Albrikan, Aldawsari
Substitutes:
Alaqidi, Alkassar, Majrashi, Bu Washi, Kadish, Thikri, Abu Alshamat, Aljohani, Alhajji, Kanno, Yahya, Alsheri, Alghannam, Alhamddan, Mandash
Key figures before the match
- Spain and Saudi Arabia have met three times before – Spain has won each time.
- The only World Cup meeting came in 2006, when Juanito scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory.
- Spain have scored just two goals in their last four World Cup matches – since their 7-0 win over Costa Rica in 2022.
- Three of Saudi Arabia’s last four World Cup matches have had both teams score.
- Saudi Arabia have lost all but one of their 11 World Cup matches against European teams. The exception? A sensational 1-0 win over Belgium in 1994.
- Spain have won two out of five World Cup matches against Asian teams – but lost to Japan in 2022 and were knocked out by South Korea on penalties in 2002.
Our prediction: Spain will finally get things moving
Although Yamal’s role is still a question mark for many, it is difficult to imagine Spain struggling as much as against Cape Verde. With more pace, more breadth and a clearer plan, the Reds should get the campaign on the right track.
Prediction: Spain 3-1 Saudi Arabia
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