Spain, World Cup Favorites, Are Stuck At 0 Goals and Yamal Can't Even Bail Them Out

Alright, Seattle, listen up! Spain, the reigning European champs and pre-tournament faves for the 2026 World Cup, are straight up struggling! They’re heading back to Atlanta on Sunday after a SHOCKING goalless draw against Cape Verde, a team making their debut! Seriously, twenty-seven shots and zero goals? Now everyone’s asking if their attacking edge is totally gone, and the bookies have already dropped them as the top pick for the title.

Yamal's Not Starting, Spain's Desperate for Goals

Spain needs a total reset, no doubt. Against Cape Verde, they looked lost in front of goal. You'd think their incredible 18-year-old winger, Lamine Yamal, would be stepping up, right? He’s one of the world's most exciting players and usually bags goals or assists. But here’s the kicker: he’s still recovering from a hamstring injury! He only got on the field in the 71st minute last game, sitting on the bench for most of it. Yamal confirmed on Spanish TVE he won't start against Saudi Arabia yet, saying he's "fine, I’m feeling good, but it’s too soon, it’s unnecessary; I’m still settling in, it’s not the right time to play a full match yet." He added, "I want to be on the pitch; at the end of the day, even if you know you can’t play for 90 minutes, you always want to get out there and help the team." So, he's a super-sub at best, and Spa

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in's "new golden generation" is trying to break a streak of back-to-back round-of-16 exits.

Saudi Arabia Riding High After Shock Draw

Talk about a total vibe shift! While Spain is wallowing in their goalless misery, Saudi Arabia is riding high on confidence after their opener. They snagged a 1-1 draw against former world champions Uruguay, and their coach Georgios Donis, who only took over two months ago, called it a "booster for our psychology." That's HUGE, keeping them totally alive for the knockouts. Spain CANNOT take these guys lightly. Remember 2022? The Saudis pulled off a massive upset against eventual champions Argentina in the opening round! These Asian giants are making their seventh World Cup appearance in North America, and they’ve been to the round of 16 before, back in 1994. Opta's supercomputer gives Spain a crazy 86.7 percent chance to win, but with Saudi Arabia's confidence, and Spain's struggles, you gotta wonder if those numbers mean anything right now. Saudi Arabia only has a 4.3 percent chance of winning, with a 9 percent probability of a draw. But we know how these things go, right? So, Sunday, 12pm local time in Atlanta. Can Spain, now fourth in Opta's overall predictions after being frontrunners, finally get on the board? Or will Saudi Arabia prove they're not just a fluke, shaking up Group H even more? We’ll be watching from the Emerald City, hoping for some unexpected drama! Let's GO!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.