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Spain finally found their winning touch at the 2026 World Cup, cruising to a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Lamine Yamal marked his return to the starting line-up by scoring the opener, while Mikel Oyarzabal netted twice and an own goal capped off a commanding display that virtually secured Spain’s place in the knockout stages with a match in hand.

After being frustrated by Cape Verde in a goalless opener, Spain came out firing this time. Their early dominance paid off when Yamal slid in at the far post to convert Oyarzabal’s low cross, signalling La Roja’s intent from the outset.

Eager to redeem himself following a subdued performance in the first match, Oyarzabal struck twice in quick succession midway through the first half. Both goals were instinctive close-range finishes, demonstrating his sharpness in front of goal. The Real Sociedad forward even came close to a hat-trick, rattling the crossbar with an audacious outside-of-the-foot attempt.

With the result effectively sealed, Yamal and Oyarzabal were both substituted at half-time. However, Spain continued pressing forward and extended their lead shortly after the interval when Hassan Al Tambakti inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net from a Marc Cucurella volley that had been parried.

Substitutions slowed the match’s tempo, yet Spain still carved out chances. Pedro Porro forced a strong save with a powerful strike, while Ferran Torres squandered a glorious opportunity when he poked wide after Mikel Merino’s clever through-ball.

Ferran later found the net in stoppage time, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside. Regardless, Spain’s dominant win lifted them to four points from their opening two Group H fixtures.

Here’s how Spain’s players rated in Atlanta:

Goalkeeper & Defence

Unai Simon (6/10): Hardly tested, with only one routine stop to make. Read the game well and swept up danger when required.

Pedro Porro (7/10): Linked up neatly with Yamal down the right and delivered several dangerous crosses. Denied a goal after a fine run into the box early in the second half.

Pau Cubarsi (8/10): Displayed excellent recovery pace to snuff out Saudi Arabia’s counter-attacks. Calm and assured in possession, initiating attacks from deep.

Aymeric Laporte (8/10): Confident in stepping out from defence to deliver incisive passes into midfield and attack. Provided the headed assist for Oyarzabal’s first goal.

Marc Cucurella (7/10): Constantly overlapped on the left, combining well with Baena to overload Saudi’s defence. His back-post header helped set up Spain’s third, and his volley led to the fourth via an own goal.

Midfield

Rodri (7/10): Controlled proceedings in midfield with composed passing and intelligent positioning. Quietly effective throughout.

Pedri (6/10): Flashed moments of brilliance but was inconsistent in possession and wayward with his finishing.

Dani Olmo (8/10): Energetic in the No.10 role, driving forward and combining neatly around the box. His smart header teed up Oyarzabal for Spain’s third goal.

Attack

Lamine Yamal (8/10): Always a threat with his direct running and flair. Even though not every attempt came off, his creativity and determination paid off with the opening goal. Withdrawn at half-time with the job done.

Mikel Oyarzabal (9/10): Responded emphatically to critics by assisting the opener and scoring twice with predatory finishes. Denied a hat-trick only by the crossbar before being replaced at the break.

Alex Baena (7/10): Delivered quality balls from the left flank and showed versatility in one-on-one duels. A solid hour’s effort before being substituted for Williams.

Substitutes & Manager

Yeremy Pino (5/10): Failed to make a significant impact after replacing Yamal at half-time.

Ferran Torres (4/10): Found himself in promising positions but lacked composure in front of goal, missing key chances. His late strike was disallowed for offside.

Mikel Merino (6/10): Produced a delightful through-ball that Ferran should have converted.

Nico Williams (6/10): Added energy and pace on the left, showing flashes of skill during his 30-minute appearance.

Fabian Ruiz (6/10): Maintained control in midfield during the closing stages, keeping play fluid.

Luis de la Fuente (7/10): The coach’s tactical tweaks paid off, with Yamal’s return adding spark and Olmo thriving in a central role. His rotations allowed key players to rest comfortably in the second half – a satisfying birthday for Spain’s boss.