0
Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2026 World Cup Group H match against Saudi Arabia on the 21st (local time). / AFP, Yonhap

European champions Spain staged a goal-scoring feast to secure their first victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Shaking off a scoreless disappointment in their opening match, Spain reshaped the dynamics of Group H with a performance befitting title contenders.

Led by manager Luis de la Fuente, Spain delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in their second Group H match on the 21st (local time) at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

Having been held to a 0-0 draw by tournament debutants Cape Verde despite unleashing 27 shots in their opener, Spain advanced to a favorable position to clinch a spot in the round of 32, bringing their record to one win and one draw (4 points). Conversely, Saudi Arabia, who had previously drawn with Uruguay, remained at one draw and one loss (1 point).

Spain showcased a completely revitalized side, overcoming their previous vulnerabilities where attacking plays had grown stagnant and finishing lacked precision against compact defensive blocks. Against Saudi Arabia, however, the inclusion of Lamine Yamal in the starting lineup injected speed and creativity into the flanks, while Mikel Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo moved fluidly upfront to unnerve the opposing defensive line.

Yamal, in particular, breathed life into the offense from the outset, shifting the entire momentum of the match. Spain seized control early in the first half with an opening goal, forcing their opponents to push their defensive line higher. This effectively allowed Spain to exploit the newly opened spaces and translate them into a flurry of goals. Dominating the shot count 22-3 and shots on target 8-1, Spain demonstrated the formidable caliber of a tournament favorite.

The breakthrough arrived in the 10th minute. Mikel Oyarzabal breached the left flank and delivered a low cross into the box, which Lamine Yamal met with a surging run to slot home with a right-footed strike. With his World Cup debut goal, Yamal etched his name in history as the second-youngest player ever to score in the tournament.

Riding the wave of momentum, Spain virtually put the match to bed midway through the first half. In the 21st minute, off a corner kick routine, Oyarzabal found the back of the net after receiving a header pass from Aymeric Laporte. Just three minutes later, a sweeping attack that transitioned through Marc Cucurella and Olmo was clinicalized once more by Oyarzabal, sealing his brace. Oyarzabal dismantled the Saudi defense, registering two goals and an assist before the 25-minute mark.

Heading into the interval with a 3-0 lead, Spain maintained their offensive pressure in the second half. Four minutes after the restart, following a cleared corner kick, Cucurella unleashed a left-footed volley. Though the goalkeeper made a reflex save, the ball defected off Saudi defender Hassan Al-Tambakti and rolled into the net for an own goal.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Ferran Torres found the net, but the goal was subsequently disallowed following a VAR review for offside. Oyarzabal, who played only 45 minutes yet single-handedly orchestrated two goals and an assist, was named the Player of the Match.

Yamal, who had played only 19 minutes against Cape Verde as a precaution for a hamstring issue, demonstrated his immense presence the moment he was handed a starting role by converting his World Cup debut goal. Following the match, the British public broadcaster BBC noted, "Yamal was the biggest talking point before kickoff," adding, "The moment he got on the ball, he breathed life into the Spanish attack. There was an atmosphere across the stadium that suggested something special was about to happen."

With this goal, Yamal became the seventh player in history to score at a World Cup before turning 19. He also became only the second player under the age of 18 to score the opening goal in a World Cup match—the first since a 17-year-old Pelé scored against Wales in 1958.

Spain will face Uruguay in their final group-stage match on the 26th (local time). Having comfortably secured 4 points to position themselves well for the round of 32, the outcome against Uruguay is expected to determine whether they top Group H. On the same day, Saudi Arabia will play their final group fixture against Cape Verde.

                                                                                                        Cheon Hyun-bin