Living up to their billing as one of the pre-tournament favourites, the reigning European champions wasted no time in racing into a 3-0 lead inside 25 minutes in Atlanta, Lamine Yamal showing he’s fit and firing by opening the scoring 10 minutes into his first World Cup start.

Mikel Oyarzabal entered the Golden Boot race with a brace, having assisted Yamal for the opener. As such, the Real Sociedad striker is just the second player on record (since 1966) to notch three goal contributions in the first 25 minutes of a World Cup match – after Hungary’s Laszlo Fazekas against El Salvador in 1982 (two assists, one goal).

Hassan Al Tambatki’s own goal early in the second half – the eighth of these finals already – put the result beyond doubt – not that it was ever really in doubt, Saudi Arabia mustering three shots worth 0.14 expected goals (xG) to Spain’s 22 worth 2.30 xG.

🇪🇸 Oyarzabal and Yamal star in World Cup thrashing

Belgium are still searching for their first win at the 2026 World Cup after they were held to a goalless draw by Iran in Group G – though the Red Devils did play the best part of 30 minutes with 10 men after Nathan Ngoy was sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Nonetheless, a weary-looking Iran – understandably so given the myriad disruptions they’ve experienced in the lead-up to this tournament – posed little threat even after the red card, registering a sole shot on target between then and the end of the game in Los Angeles.

Belgium, who were saved by the offside flag after Mehdi Taremi thought he’d given Iran a first-half lead, lacked cohesion and sharpness up front. Boss Rudi Garcia’s decision to start Romelu Lukaku – who he said after his side’s opening 1-1 draw with Egypt “can’t start a game” due to lack of fitness – was perhaps misguided in hindsight. As for Iran, the result keeps alive their push for a first-ever knockout appearance.

Elsewhere in the group, Egypt went top with their maiden World Cup win, beating New Zealand 3-1 in Vancouver.

Whatever happens from here, Cape Verde have well and truly left their mark on the 2026 World Cup. Riding high off the back of their astonishing 0-0 draw with Spain, it looked for a brief while like they would go one better against two-time winners Uruguay, before snatching a 2-2 draw in the end.

The tiny African nation’s first-ever World Cup goal came in some style, Kevin Pina unleashing a ferocious 30-yard free-kick to send the Miami Stadium into raptures. In the words of Alan Partridge, he must have a foot like a traction engine.

But, it wasn’t quite to be for the Blue Sharks – though substitute Helio Varela’s quick reactions drew them level again, giving them a real shot at reaching the Round of 32 with Saudi Arabia still to come in Group H.

But for Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay, this result might prove terminal: there’s every chance they’ll have to get something against Spain on matchday three if they’re to stay in the tournament.

🇨🇻 Pina makes history as World Cup debutants put out another statement

Four teams could book their spots in the Round of 32 on day 12 as the second set of games is played in Groups I and J.

Argentina face Austria in Monday’s first Group J match before France take on Iraq in Group I.

Then, in the early hours of the morning, FotMob favourites Norway go up against Senegal in Group I, followed by the Group I clash between Jordan and Algeria.

Lionel Messi’s hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria means he needs just one more goal to surpass Miroslav Klose as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer – and who would bet against him doing that against Austria on what’s set to be his 201^st cap? The 2022-winning captain has found the net in each of his last three international outings and in each of his last five World Cup games. 

Argentina will be through with another victory; should Austria pull off an upset, they’ll advance beyond the first round for the first time since 1982.

Messi might have already equalled Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals, but Kylian Mbappe is hot on his heels. Still only 27, the France skipper moved within two of that tally with a fine brace in Les Bleus’ 3-1 victory against Senegal in their opener.

And he’ll no doubt fancy his chances of reaching that mark as the two-time World Cup winners play an Iraq side who lost 4-1 to Norway on their long-awaited return to the tournament.

Three points will take France through to the knockout stage for a team record-extending sixth straight finals; Iraq have lost all four of their World Cup matches to date.