Preview: Spain vs Saudi Arabia | Latest news, line-ups, absences
Preview, team news, head-to-head, probable line-ups and where to watch Spain vs Saudi Arabia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
After a humiliating 0-0 draw with World Cup newcomers Cape Verde on Monday, Spain are under pressure to kick start their tournament on Sunday when they face Saudi Arabia at 17:00 BST at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Saudi Arabia caused an upset of their own in their opening game by holding Uruguay to a 1-1 draw.
Spain won’t be too worried as in 2010 their tournament also got off to a false start and Uruguay’s inability to beat Saudi Arabia essentially gave them a reprieve in the fight to top the group. That said, a win on Sunday is now essential for Luis de la Fuente’s side, and the betting markets strongly favour a Spain win.
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Spain will be anxious to open their account on Sunday after a goalless draw in the opener which saw them dominate possession, but generate relatively little. They may feel unfortunate not to have scored, having created 2.1 xG, but the overall feeling was that they had few answers to Cape Verde’s low block and Saudi Arabia will have taken heart from that.
Saudi Arabia led for a large spell of the game against Uruguay despite the South American team’s dominance. They will need another big performance from goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais, who made nine saves against Uruguay, although he will feel he could have done more to prevent the goal.
Spain
As Spain’s goalscoring problems continue, injury concerns still surround star wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who both came off the bench against Cape Verde. The former hadn’t played since April, but looked keen to impress in his 20-minute stint on Monday and is expected to be fit enough to start against Saudi Arabia. Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, whose brother Iñaki was an unused sub as Ghana beat Panama, is a little further away, however, and may see 20 or 30 minutes off the bench.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia have no injury concerns reported ahead of Sunday’s clash and are expected to run it back with the same team that not only frustrated Uruguay but was 10 minutes away from causing an even bigger upset.
Teams H2H: head-to-head stats
Spain have faced Saudi Arabia on three previous occasions and emerged victorious on each of those. The most recent meeting was a 5-0 friendly win in 2012 with Pedro getting a brace, along with goals from Santi Cazorla, Xavi and David Villa.
Previous meetings:
- 07/09/2012: Spain 5-0 Saudi Arabia (Friendly)
- 29/05/2010: Spain 3-2 Saudi Arabia (Friendly)
- 23/06/2006: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Spain (World Cup 2006)
Predicted line-ups
Spain are likely to make a few changes to sharpen their attack, while Saudi Arabia will be looking for a similar performance to their last outing.
Tactical analysis: can Saudi Arabia give Spain another low-block headache?
Spain’s challenge once again will be turning possession into clear-cut chances. Against Cape Verde they monopolised the ball but struggled to break down a well-organised defensive block. De la Fuente may therefore look to introduce more pace and directness through Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo, with Nico Williams an option from the bench.
Saudi Arabia are unlikely to press high for sustained periods. Instead, they will seek to remain compact, deny space between the lines and spring forward through Salem Al-Dawsari and Al-Buraikan when opportunities arise. The approach worked well against Uruguay and could again make life uncomfortable for a possession-heavy opponent.
Key players to watch
Dani Olmo (Spain)
The crowd rose to their feet every time Lamine Yamal touched the ball against Cape Verde and in a starting role, he will be expected to set the tournament alight on Sunday. However, if Saudi Arabia pay him too much attention, that could free up the more direct Dani Olmo on the other side with his cutting runs into the box, in turn leaving space for Cucurella on the left flank.
Salem Al-Dawsarí (Saudi Arabia)
The 34-year-old is a veteran and a legend in his home country. No stranger to a World Cup goal, in 2022 he netted against both Argentina and Mexico and will be looking to add another to his collection on Sunday.
Where to watch Spain vs Saudi Arabia in the UK and Ireland
Spain vs Saudi Arabia kicks off at 17:00 BST on Sunday, 21 June at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Stadium).
Viewers in the United Kingdom can find live coverage on the BBC, while fans in Ireland can watch the game live on RTÉ.
Market insights and probability predictions
Spain are strong favourites to claim their first win of the 2026 World Cup, with current markets giving La Roja a 74% chance of victory. Saudi Arabia are rated at 9%, while the draw is assigned a 17% probability, reflecting Spain’s superior quality but also acknowledging the Saudis’ impressive result against Uruguay.
Goals are expected, with markets suggesting a 61% chance of over 2.5 goals and a 49% probability of both teams scoring. A 2-0 Spain victory is among the more popular correct-score predictions, while Lamine Yamal is expected to attract significant interest in the goalscorer markets following his return to full fitness.
