Spain rout Saudi Arabia 4-0 as Egypt, Cabo Verde and Iran shine on Father's Day World Cup action

Spain finally produced the dominant display many had anticipated at the World Cup, beating Saudi Arabia 4-0 on Sunday, 21 June 2026, Father's Day. Lamine Yamal, back near his best after nursing an injury in the opening match, joined Álex Baena on the wings as Luis de la Fuente reshaped his team. Analysts noted the shift from Ferran Torres and Gavi gave Spain natural width, while Dani Olmo's midfield role and strong work from wing-backs Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro added fluency. Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice and assisted another before being rested early as Spain led 3-0 inside 30 minutes.

Belgium were held to a 0-0 draw by Iran despite controlling possession. Without the ill Jeremy Doku, the Red Devils looked one-dimensional, with Romelu Lukaku lacking mobility and Kevin De Bruyne unable to link midfield and attack. Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made several outstanding saves, including a late stop many rated among the best of the tournament so far.

Uruguay were unable to break down a disciplined Cabo Verde side that again refused to sit deep and hope for the best. Marcelo Bielsa's side struggled for creativity between the lines, and Darwin Núñez's benching drew notice, but praise centred on Cabo Verde's belief, pressing and technical quality against higher-ranked opponents.

Egypt claimed a valuable 3-1 win over New Zealand as captain Mo Salah led from the front. Egypt grew sharper after the interval, with Trézéguet Ashour given more freedom to roam, and benefited from a key moment when New Zealand were down to ten men before the go-ahead goal.

In Group H, Spain moved to four points unbeaten, with Uruguay second and Cabo Verde positioned strongly among third-place contenders. Panelists highlighted Uruguay full-back Maxi Araújo and Oyarzabal among the day's standouts, while Lukaku drew heavy criticism from Belgium supporters.

Away from the pitch, discussion turned to FIFA's respect for Saudi Arabia's flag ceremony: because the national flag bears the Shahada, it is held aloft rather than laid on the grass. Footage also circulated of protests in Mexico over restrictions on local vendors around World Cup venues.