Spain vs Saudi Arabia: Can La Roja avoid another Group H slip-up?
by Thobelani Moyo | by Thobelani Moyo
La Roja still favourites to top Group H despite MD1 setback
The 2010 World Champions, Spain, had a disappointing start to the 2026 World Cup campaign as their Group H opener against Cape Verde, the lowest-ranked side in the group, ended in a goalless draw.
For a nation boasting world-class players and carrying the weight of lofty expectations, the stalemate against the tournament's lowest-ranked side was viewed as nothing short of an underachievement.
The stats in that match told a different story, however, as La Roja dominated all aspects of the game. It was their inability to find a breakthrough that raised concerns about their cutting edge in the final third.
Spain's stats against Cape Verde in Group H opener:
| Spain | Stats | Cape Verde |
|---|---|---|
| 2.10 | Expected goals | 0.21 |
| 74% | Ball possession | 26% |
| 27 | Total shots | 6 |
| 7 | Shots on target | 1 |
| 2 | Big chances | 1 |
| 11 | Corner kicks | 1 |
| 92% (734/800) | Passes | 74% (205/278) |
| 1 | Yellow cards | 1 |
Head coach Luis de la Fuente will be hoping for an improved performance this time around in the second round. In fact, three points could be non-negotiable for Spain if they are to avoid heading into their final group game with qualification hanging in the balance.
Past meetings between them and Saudi Arabia see them in a strong position to come out on top, having dominated this opponent in overall head-to-head meetings.
Spain are meeting Saudi Arabia for the second time at the World Cup. Their last encounter was in 2006, with the former winning 1-0 in the group stages.
This is the fourth meeting between these two sides and Spain have the upper hand, winning each of their last three encounters. It has been a polished and clinical display, scoring nine goals and conceding just two.
Saudi Arabia is looking to cause another upset
The race for qualification in Group H is still very much alive for all sides and Saudi Arabia can now dream of reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the second time in 32 years.
In the opening round, the West Asian side was pitted against Uruguay, and all signs were pointing towards their first defeat in the tournament, given the disparity in class and quality. However, against all odds, the team managed to snatch a point in a 1-1 draw.
This shouldn't come as a surprise, for a side that's 45 places behind in the world rankings was able to keep Marcelo Bielsa's men at bay, not forgetting that it is the same side that shocked the world at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, defeating eventual champions Argentina 2-1 in the opening round.
The Green Falcons, who are making their seventh appearance at the World Cup finals, are aiming to cause another big upset this time around against a side they've yet to defeat in three encounters. Will they be able to record their first win, which will put them in pole position for qualification in Group H? Let's find out what our experts have to say in our Spain vs Saudi Arabia prediction for more insights into the game.
An important factor that should not be overlooked as they head into this clash is their record against European opposition at the World Cup, which has been underwhelming. So far, they've faced teams in this bracket on 11 occasions and have managed just one win (L10).
That sole victory came against Belgium in the 1994 World Cup in the United States. They won 1-0 at RFK Stadium with Saeed Al-Owairan scoring the match-winning goal five minutes into the game.
Player focus: Lamine Yamal - A star beyond his age!
Lamine Yamal is one of the most exciting young talents in world football and is already performing at an elite level. The youngster has made 26 appearances for the senior national team and has already racked up six goals.
He was also one of the standout performers for Barcelona in the previous La Liga season, who clinched their second consecutive title. Named the La Liga Best Player, the 18-year-old phenom had 27 goal contributions for the club, scoring 16 and providing 11 assists.
However, his performance was disrupted due to a biceps femoris hamstring injury in his left leg, as he could have made more impact than that which saw him miss the remainder of the domestic season with his club.
While he has since recovered from that injury, head coach Luis de la Fuente has indicated that he will not risk rushing him back into full match intensity as he tries to avoid another re-injury. This is one of the reasons Yamal played 20 minutes in the Group H opener against Cape Verde.
Suprisingly, he was once again a standout player despite not contributing to anything as he attempted the most dribbles at five and made 16 out of 19 accurate passes (84%). He could likely start this one off the bench this time around and provide immediate impact.
