Lamine Yamal celebrated his return to Spain’s starting XI with a goal as the European champions revived their World Cup campaign with a convincing 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

The 18-year-old forward opened the scoring after just 10 minutes of the Group H encounter in Atlanta, setting Spain on their way to a comfortable win over a Saudi Arabian side that struggled throughout the match.

Spain entered the game looking to respond after being held to a disappointing 0-0 draw by Cape Verde in their opening fixture, with their highly rated attack failing to find the net.

However, the return of Yamal, who was making his first start in two months after recovering from a hamstring injury, immediately provided a spark as Spain applied early pressure.

Yamal found space at the far post to convert Mikel Oyarzabal’s low cross and put Spain ahead. Oyarzabal then added two goals in the space of three minutes to give La Roja a commanding 3-0 advantage after only 24 minutes.

Spain extended their lead shortly after the restart when Marc Cucurella’s effort was stopped by Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais, but the rebound deflected off defender Hassan al-Tambakti and ended up in the net.

The victory moved Spain to the top of Group H with four points from two matches.

Cape Verde Aim to Continue Making History

Cape Verde will look to join Spain on four points when they face Uruguay in Miami later on Sunday, with coach Pedro Leitao Brito, popularly known as Bubista, insisting his team will approach the match with confidence.

“We didn’t come just to take part. We want to play all the matches and show that we have the level to compete with the best teams in the world,” he said.

Bubista added that his team’s goal was to approach every game with courage, organisation and belief.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, who produced an outstanding display to frustrate Spain in their opening match, will have the support of his mother, Ana Candida Evora, who travelled from the capital Praia after receiving her US visa.

Evora’s arrival followed earlier concerns after Vozinha revealed emotionally that she had been unable to secure travel approval before Cape Verde’s first game. The US State Department later granted her the required visa.

Other World Cup Updates

Belgium will once again be without winger Jeremy Doku when they face Iran after he continued to struggle with respiratory problems. Belgium lacked attacking sharpness without him in their opening draw against Egypt.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said travel restrictions affecting his team were expected to ease before their final group match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. He claimed the difficulties had negatively influenced his players’ performances.

Despite those challenges, Iran remain in the race for qualification after drawing 2-2 with New Zealand in their opening match.

Egypt will face New Zealand in the other Group D fixture on Sunday in Vancouver.

Germany Seal Knockout Qualification

Germany secured their place in the knockout stage on Saturday after a dramatic injury-time goal gave them a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast.

The result marked Germany’s first qualification for the last 32 since 2014.

Their progress was confirmed later when Curaçao, the smallest nation by population ever to qualify for the World Cup with around 160,000 inhabitants, held Ecuador to a surprising 0-0 draw in Kansas City, allowing Germany to win Group E with a game remaining.

Elsewhere, the Netherlands strengthened their qualification hopes with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Sweden in Group F.

Japan also moved to four points alongside the Dutch after recording a comfortable 4-0 win against Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico. The match was the 1,000th game in World Cup history.