Spain beats Saudi Arabia 4-0 in World Cup to quell criticism after Cape Verde draw

Spain's opening match at the 2026 World Cup ended in a 0‑0 draw with Cape Verde, prompting criticism of the team’s performance and sparking a tense exchange between players, coach Luis de la Fuente and the Spanish press. Media commentator Josep Pedrerol reacted angrily, while midfielder Álex Baena defended the squad, saying the controversy was largely generated by journalists.

Two days later, Spain delivered a dominant 4‑0 victory over Saudi Arabia. Mikel Oyarzabal scored a double, Lamine Yamal added his first tournament goal, and Álex Baena contributed with 61 minutes played and an 88% pass success rate. Goalkeeper Unai Simón kept a clean sheet, making Spain the first team at this World Cup to concede no goals in its first two matches. The win restored confidence in the squad and eased the pressure on de la Fuente ahead of the group stage’s final games.