Spain are looking to bounce back with from their shock draw with Cape Verde as they take on Saudi Arabia in their second match at the 2026 World Cup. Read on for our 20/1 bet-builder tip for this Group H clash in Atlanta.
With la Roja, the pre-tournament favourites, in need of a win, we fear for Saudi Arabia here. Luis de la Fuente and his side will be keen to bounce back at the first opportunity. However, the Green Falcons showed their strength in drawing with Uruguay in their own opening game.
Our Spain vs Saudi Arabia bet-builder is available at around 20/1 with Sky Bet. Read on as we break down each selection and explain why it stands out ahead of this Group H showdown.
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Spain to win
It’s not difficult to see why Spain were considered favourites to lift the trophy this summer. Though they’ve since lost that tag thanks to their draw with Cape Verde and France’s win over Senegal. On their previous World Cup win in 2010 they were beaten by Switzerland in the group stage, so don’t expect them to be phased by that shock draw with the debutants in Atlanta.
Saudi Arabia held Uruguay to a 1-1 draw in their own opener, but this is a different test altogether. There is a big gap in quality between these two teams. Although it will be scant consolation for their players and fans, that 0-0 draw with the African minnows actually saw them broke the record for most games unbeaten for an international side in football history, with 32. They’ll face few problems in bouncing back with a win here.
Fabian Ruiz 2+ shots on target
Spain will hope to find more space in behind the Saudi Arabian backline than they did against Cape Verde. That may be out of their hands if the Green Falcons keep in the low-block shape they adopted against Uruguay. As such, la Roja may be forced to rely on their midfielders to take some more long shots. That’s what Fabian Ruiz did against Cape Verde, racking up five shots as the Europeans failed to break through.
Only one of those shots was on target, but while Spain will hope to rely less on this tactic in this game, the PSG man will hope to find a bit more accuracy with him attempts at goal in this game. In his last major tournament, Euro 2024, Ruiz racked up 17 shots in total, six on which were on target. Saudi Arabia stopper Mohammed Al Owais made more saves than any other keeper on Matchday One. He may need to do the same again to give his team any chance of earning another point here.
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Mikel Oyarzabal
Prior to that draw with Cape Verde, Oyarzabal had scored nine times in his last eight international appearances. The Real Sociedad man is prolific at club level, scoring 15 times in 34 appearances in La Liga this season, but does seem to save his best form in front of goal for his country. He scored braces against Serbia and Georgia during the recent campaign plus finding the net
The 29 year old took five shots against Cape Verde but had no luck with his attempts. Three were off target, one on target and one blocked. His form this campaign suggests that a second consecutive showing like that is unlikely. So the third selection on our Spain vs Saudi Arabia bet-builder is a goal for a goal on Oyarzabal. We’re backing him to open his account for the tournament here.
Abdulelah Al Amri to be carded
Abdulelah Al Amri got on the scoresheet in the 1-1 draw against Uruguay. However, the Saudi Arabia defender also found himself in the book just moments later for a foul on Federico Vinas. The centre-back put in a strong performance in that draw, but he will come under sustained pressure against a Spain outfit desperate to bounce back from that tie with Cape Verde.
The 29 year old was carded three times in the Saudi Pro League this season, with two of those bookings coming in the final five games of the season. With Oyarzabal and potentially the likes of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams to face up against here, he could be in for a tough night in Atlanta.
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