Atlanta: Spain, one of the favorites in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, delivered a commanding performance with a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in the second match of Group H at Atlanta Stadium in the United States. The win marks Spain's return to form, having secured 4 points from their first two matches and maintaining their position at the top of the group.
According to Thai News Agency, Spain took an early lead in the 10th minute when Lamine Yamal scored after being set up by Miguel Oyarzabal. The lead was doubled in the 21st minute as Oyarzabal intercepted the ball and found the net again. Dani Olmo assisted Oyarzabal for his second goal in the 24th minute, making it 3-0. Spain sealed their victory in the 49th minute of the second half when a shot from Marc Cucurella was deflected into Saudi Arabia's net by Hassan Al-Tombakhti.
Spain's national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, emphasized the team's resilience, highlighting their 33 consecutive matches without defeat. He addressed the substitution of 18-year-old star Lamine Yamal, noting that despite Yamal's readiness to play longer, the decision to conserve his energy was made due to the match's early resolution.
In another Group H encounter at Miami Stadium, Uruguay and Cape Verde ended in a 2-2 draw. Cape Verde's Kevin Pina opened the scoring with a free-kick in the 21st minute, but Uruguay equalized through Maxi Araujo shortly before halftime. Agustn Canobbio gave Uruguay a 2-1 lead in stoppage time, but Cape Verde's Helio Varela leveled the score in the 61st minute. The draw leaves both teams with a chance to progress to the next round.
Cape Verdean fans celebrated their team's performance, expressing pride in participating in their first World Cup. Kevin Pina's goal marked a historic moment as he became the first Cape Verdean to score in a World Cup match. The island nation, with a population of just over 530,000, is the third most populous country to qualify for the tournament finals.
In the Group G match at Los Angeles Stadium, Belgium and Iran played to a goalless draw. Belgium's Nathan Ngoy received a red card in the 68th minute, reducing the team to 10 men. Belgium's coach Rudi Garcia expressed disappointment with the team's performance, citing missed opportunities and praising Iran's goalkeeper, Alireza Braunvand.
Iran's head coach Amir Galenoei reflected on the challenges faced by the team, including the suspension of their domestic league and visa issues. Despite these obstacles, Galenoei commended his players and staff for their efforts against the 10th-ranked team in the world.
In another Group G match, New Zealand was defeated by Egypt with a score of 1-3, concluding the day's action in the group stage of the tournament.