Spain vs Saudi Arabia LIVE: Lamine Yamal starts World Cup clash after recovering from injury

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The Independent

·21 June 2026

Spain vs Saudi Arabia LIVE: Lamine Yamal starts World Cup clash after recovering from injury

Lamine Yamal starts a World Cup match for the first time as Spain face Saudi Arabia (Reuters)

Spain will be desperate for a win against Saudi Arabia today, after stuttering to a shock draw in their World Cup opener.

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On Monday, Spain were held to a surprising 0-0 by Cape Verde, whose heroic goalkeeper denied the European champions time and again, but La Roja would have seen today’s clash with Saudi Arabia as a very winnable game.

“Would have”, that is, until Saudi Arabia snatched a promising 1-1 draw against World Cup stalwarts and former champions Uruguay, with Abdulelah Al-Amri’s goal securing a crucial point and surely encouraging the Gulf team here.

Still, Spain will be heavy favourites to pick up their first win in Group H, having entered the tournament as one of the most-fancied sides, but are they currently too dependent on young star Lamine Yamal?

He entered the tournament with a hamstring injury and only featured off the bench against Cape Verde, but the 18-year-old forward starts his first World Cup match this afternoon in Atlanta.