Spain vs Saudi Arabia 4-0: World Cup 2026 – as it happened

Spain have finally arrived in this 2026 World Cup with a sparkling 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia.

They will hope to continue their winning ways when they next take on Uruguay on June 26.

We hope you enjoyed today’s coverage, and on behalf of Patrick Keddie, this is Rohan Sharma signing off.

Spain pick up their first win at the #FIFAWorldCup 🇪🇸✔️

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 21, 2026

The World Cup coverage keeps coming, and we have another special day for you tomorrow.

Our first match will be the current World Cup champions, Argentina, facing Austria. The live blog is set to start at 14:00 GMT.

Following that, we have back-to-back finalists, France, fresh off their 3-1 drubbing of Senegal, taking on Iraq in Philadelphia.

That live blog starts at 18:00 GMT, so make sure to tune in to that as well!

Les Bleus sont arrivés à Philadelphie ! 📍 pic.twitter.com/QmiL2u5kFF

— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) June 21, 2026

𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝟒-𝟎 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐅𝐓

They added a fourth shortly after the break, but the damage was done in the first half, when Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal tore Saudi Arabia apart.

Spain are back in business. pic.twitter.com/Q3qcXd2w0j

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 21, 2026

1 – On MD1, Mikel Oyarzabal became the first player on record with 0 touches in the first 30 minutes of a FIFA World Cup game.

On MD2, he became just the third player to score/assist three goals in the opening 30 minutes (both since 1966).

Rebound. pic.twitter.com/8ZulhjxRwQ

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 21, 2026

3 – With two goals and an assist, Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal is only the second player on record (from 1966) to score or assist three goals in the opening 25 minutes of a FIFA World Cup match, after Hungary’s László Fazekas against El Salvador in 1982 (1 goal, 2 assists).

Rapid. pic.twitter.com/4SR6ExiILu

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 21, 2026

Spain forward Lamine Yamal chatted with DAZN following the match: “I’ve always dreamt of being at a World Cup, and being able to score in my first match as a starter is a dream.

“I watched the last World Cup from a classroom, so being able to score here with my mum and my family in the stands is a dream come true.”

On being subbed at half-time: “That was the plan, to play for a half and get some rest, but above all to help the team.

“The first game wasn’t really us, it was different, but now we’ve arrived and we’re going for more.

“It turned out the way we wanted—being 3-0 up allowed me to rest, so it was perfect.

“Drawing a match [against Cape Verde] that you know you should win stings. It made us think a lot, and it helped us approach this match exactly how we wanted to.”

18 – Lamine Yamal is only the second player aged 18 or younger to open the scoring in a FIFA World Cup match – the other was a 17-year-old Pelé for Brazil v Wales in 1958.

Emulating. pic.twitter.com/Pf3ty86zdI

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 21, 2026

The Spanish forward caught up with TV Espana following the match: “We’re happy to have turned around the situation. We’re happy with the result, and the feelings, and must keep going now.

“I’m happy to have been able to help the team in this way. The other day I hardly touched the ball, was less active, less present.

“Although I was trying to help as I could in a different way, today I’m happy it went this way. I’m always looking for the team to do well.

“It’s not about proving myself. I’ve always said I feel loved by my teammates, the coach, the staff day to day. That’s what counts for me.

“People will talk outside. We know how the football world works, but we have to stay relaxed.”

On being subbed: “As is logical, the coach gave minutes to other players, we all must be important. When we’re picked, we have to give 100%, when it’s others, they will do the same.”

Spain have had more shots (17) than any other team in the first half of a game at the 2026 World Cup.

Many of them have come from outside the box, but they’ve scored from all three of their shots from inside the six-yard box. pic.twitter.com/XsjkWhQftH

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 21, 2026

Spain rocket to the top of Group H with four points after two matches played.

Uruguay sit in second for now, with one point, while Saudi Arabia takes third a point, and Cabo Verde rounds out the group in fourth with a point as well.

Cabo Verde and Uruguay prepare to battle in a few hours.

With two goals and an assist, Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal is rightfully named player of the match.

¡¡AL PALO OYARRRRR!!

¡¡Y OTRO CHUTAZO DE LAMINE!!

Esta España NO SABE PARAR.

🇪🇸 🆚 🇸🇦 | 3-0 | 37’#VamosEspaña | #CopaMundialFIFA pic.twitter.com/6o3LCc3C4r

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 21, 2026

It was a superlative-laden performance from the European champions.

Led by Oyarzabal’s first-half brace, and with Yamal opening his World Cup account, La Roja played with authority and swagger.

In the end, they managed an astounding 20 shots, with nine on target, compared to Saudi’s three and one, respectively.

Spain will hope to build on this result when they come up against their toughest challenge with Uruguay next.

Fullntime: Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia 

🏁 ¡¡𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗘𝗟 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗗𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢!!

Gran victoria de nuestra @SEFutbol en el segundo partido de esta #CopaMundialFIFA.

⚽️ Goles de Lamine Yamal, Oyarzabal (x2) y Cucurella.

🇪🇸 🆚 🇸🇦 | 4-0 | 90+9’ #VamosEspaña pic.twitter.com/IDKUUlRJHX

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 21, 2026

The referee blows one last time with stoppage time extending into the ninth minute.

Spain are officially up and running in this 2026 World Cup.

Full time: Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia 

After a lengthy break, the official ruling is that the Barcelona forward was just marginally offside when he received the cross.

90+5 mins: Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia 

Torres gets on the end of a well-worked sequence from the right side, and is able to tap it into the open goal.

There is a VAR check to determine the legitimacy of the goal, which is understandably met with boos from the Spanish contingent.

90+2 mins: Spain 5-0 Saudi Arabia 

Just six more minutes remaining in this contest.

90+1 mins: Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia 

With Kanno’s head receiving some strapping, and having changed his blood-stained shirt, we are about to resume again in Atlanta.

The Green Falcons use the delay to make a change, with Nasser Al-Dawsari making way for Khalid Al-Ghannam.

Kanno comes back on the field with a fresh shirt.

90 mins: Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia 

The Saudi midfielder is on his back after vying for an aerial ball with teammate Hejji.

Play is temporarily ground to a halt as he receives some treatment.

87 mins: Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia 

Both sides will be content to end the match with the current scoreline.

Saudi are using the opportunity to see if they can provide a final surprise as they continue to go forward.

85 mins: Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia 

Williams curls in a cross from the left side. Pino tries to get to it, but Al-Tambakti is just in front.

However, he ends up getting a deflection off his body straight at goal. Luckily for Al-Owais, he is right in front to keep out the rapid chance.

That would have been brutal had that gone in for Spain, but luckily Pino was just marginally offside.

82 mins: Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia