Spain vs Saudi Arabia Prediction: Slow start for Euro 2024 Champs

An extremely disappointing start to the 2026 World Cup for the reigning Euro 2024 Champions has caused consternation among supporters. A big performance against Saudi Arabia on Sunday though can get their tournament right back on track.

Our Spanish football expert Mark Sochon delivers his Spain vs Saudi Arabia Predictions for the 5PM kick-off live on BBC One and he expects a slow start...

2026 World Cup

Group H

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts	Form
1	Spain	2	1	1	0	4	0	4	4	D W
2	Uruguay	2	0	2	0	3	3	0	2	D D
3	Cape Verde	2	0	2	0	2	2	0	2	D D
4	Saudi Arabia	2	0	1	1	1	5	-4	1	D L

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It was an unconvincing start to the World Cup from pre-tournament favourites Spain. An inspired display from Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha frustrated them in a goalless draw in Atlanta. Luis de la Fuente's side return to the same stadium on Sunday to take on Saudi Arabia. 

Spain's opening display can be viewed in different lights, depending on your perspective. They had 27 shots and created 2.10 xG across the 90 minutes against a side that dropped deep and only managed one attempt on target. Had they made their early dominance count, La Roja would likely have gone on to record a relatively routine win. 

However, even a narrow victory would have masked some of the cracks in their performance. The display felt like a step backwards to the Spain side that crashed out of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in disappointing fashion, with slow, predictable football. 

Neither of their star wingers, who shone so brightly at Euro 2024, started the contest. Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams were only introduced in the final 20 minutes, following recent fitness issues. 

Even in his brief time on the pitch, Yamal underlined just how important he is going to be for Spain at this World Cup. The Barcelona man touched the ball 36 times and nearly set up Mikel Oyarzabal for the breakthrough, although in the end it was Cape Verde who nearly grabbed a late winner with a headed chance. 

Once Yamal is fit and firing, this side could be a very different proposition. In the longest-ever World Cup, there is certainly time for the 18-year-old to get into his groove, and there will be no panic in De la Fuente's camp just yet. 

Eventual champions frequently make slow starts at this tournament, and it's worth remembering that Spain themselves were beaten 1-0 by Switzerland in their opening game in 2010, before going on to lift the trophy. Argentina also started out with a shock loss against Saudi Arabia in 2022, and it's the Green Falcons who provide the next opposition for La Roja. 

The Saudis started their Group H campaign with a 1-1 draw against Uruguay. Abdulelah Al-Amri fired his team ahead in the first half, but they had to survive spells of heavy pressure from Marcelo Bielsa's team to ultimately grind out a draw. The South Americans had 27 shots, as Mohammed Al-Owais impressed with nine saves in goal for the underdogs. 

With a final fixture against Cape Verde to come, Saudi Arabia now have a good chance of reaching the knockout stage at the World Cup for only the second time. They haven't managed that feat since the last time the tournament was held in the United States in 1994. 

Their preparations for this tournament were chaotic. Georgios Donis was appointed as the new head coach as recently as April, following the departure of Hervé Renard, who has since jetted into the World Cup to take the Tunisia job. 

Donis lost his first game in charge against Ecuador. However, his team have avoided defeat in all three fixtures since then, also beating Puerto Rico and drawing with Senegal in pre-tournament friendlies. 

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Team News: 

Spain are hoping Yamal will be ready to start on matchday two, after a lively cameo appearance against Cape Verde. Williams may be held back again, while Liverpool-bound Víctor Muñoz remains an injury doubt. 

De la Fuente also has the option of switching to a 4-2-3-1 system, which worked well for Spain at Euro 2024. That may see Dani Olmo come into the side, most likely in place of Fabián Ruiz. 

Saudi Arabia should have everyone available in Atlanta. There have been no withdrawals from their initial World Cup squad, so Donis can have few complaints on the fitness front. He may simply opt for an unchanged lineup, with Firas Al-Buraikan expected to lead the line again. 

World Cup Group H

Sunday 21 June 2026

Spain vs Saudi Arabia

4 - 0

Match Odds: 

Spain are the 1/10 favourites to win this match, while you can back Saudi Arabia at 22/1. The Draw is on offer at 17/2. 

If you're expecting a strong response from the European champions to their opening result, you can back Spain -2.00 Handicap at 9/10. La Roja are also priced at 4/9 to win the game to nil, while they're on offer at 4/5 to win both halves. 

Alternatively, you can back Saudi Arabia or Draw in the First Half Double Chance market at 7/4. The underdogs are also priced at 7/4 to score over 0.5 goals. 

With Yamal expected to play a much bigger part in this match, the youngster is on offer at 4/5 to score anytime. You can also back the Barça winger to make his first big World Cup statement by scoring and assisting in this game at 11/5. 

Other options in the Anytime Goalscorer market include Oyarzabal at 8/13 and Ferran Torres at 9/10. Al-Buraikan is priced at 6/1 to get on the scoresheet for the underdogs. 

*You can bet on this match and get all of the live Spain vs Saudi Arabia Odds over on betfred.com...

Bet 1 - Result after 30 minutes - Draw @ 11/10  

Clues as to how this game may pan out were in evidence in each of these teams' opening fixtures. Saudi Arabia had only 35% of the ball against Uruguay. They dropped deep and largely restricted Bielsa's men to set-piece opportunities and shots from range. 

It seems almost inevitable that they'll play in a similar fashion against Spain, who had 74% of the ball in their opening game. That may mean De la Fuente's side have to be patient here as they try to wear their opponents down. 

Saudi Arabia have done a good job of keeping it tight in the early stages since the change in coach. They've not conceded a goal in the opening half an hour in any of their four outings under Donis so far. With that in mind, I'm backing this match to be level after 30 minutes at odds of 23/20. 

Bet 2 - Spain to win over 8.5 corners @ 6/5 

The vast majority of this contest is likely to be played in Saudi territory, and Spain will look to get the ball wide and stretch the pitch better than they managed last time out. They racked up 11 corners in their opening fixture, and I'm expecting a similar total here. 

Saudi Arabia won't mind having to defend plenty of set-pieces, given Spain have few players capable of posing a real threat in the air. The Green Falcons conceded 14 corners against Uruguay, and I'm backing them to give away over 8.5 corners in this match at 6/5. 

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