Spain national football team

Lamine Yamal lifts Spain, while Uruguay faces a World Cup crisis

Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4-0, stayed unbeaten and strengthened its hold on first place in Guadalajara. Uruguay drew its first two matches and is in danger of an early World Cup exi…

World Cup stars, underdogs, and old grudges define the tournament so far

The article surveys the biggest World Cup stories so far, led by Messi, Mbappe and Ronaldo, plus surprise runs by Curaçao and Cape Verde. It also previews decisive group-stage mat…

World Cup group stage enters chaotic final round, with Cape Verde still able to top Spain

The 2026 World Cup group stage will be decided in a simultaneous final round, with eight third-place teams also advancing. Spain, Uruguay, and especially Cape Verde remain in a dr…

World Cup group-stage quirk could tempt Algeria and Austria to prefer third place

The 2026 World Cup’s new qualification system could create an odd incentive in Group 10, where Algeria and Austria meet in the last round. Depending on other results, one or both…

Spain Finds a More Direct Formula and Pounds Saudi Arabia 4-0

Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 after changing to a more direct, faster attacking style. Lamine Yamal scored in the 10th minute, and Mikel Oyarzabal added two goals as Spain answered…

Messi Sets Unwanted World Cup Record After Missing Penalty

Lionel Messi missed a first-half penalty as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 at the World Cup. The miss gave him an unwanted record as the first player to fail from the spot three t…

Rare offside call denies Uruguay a World Cup win

Uruguay drew 2-2 with Cape Verde in the 2026 World Cup after a late winner was ruled out by VAR for an unusual offside. The decision left Uruguay with two points from two games an…

Lamine Yamal Faces Backlash Over Boot Flags and Old Morocco Celebration Video

Lamine Yamal is facing backlash in Spain after wearing Morocco and Equatorial Guinea flags on his boots and after an old video resurfaced of him celebrating a Moroccan win over Sp…

Cape Verde's Helio Varela Gives Israeli Fans a World Cup Moment

Helio Varela of Maccabi Tel Aviv scored in Cape Verde's 2-2 draw with Uruguay, prompting celebration in Israel. The goal complicated Uruguay's path to the knockout round and raise…

Yamal scores early as Spain crush Saudi Arabia in World Cup action

Spain defeated Saudi Arabia 4-0 in overnight World Cup action, with Lamine Yamal scoring early in his first tournament start. Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice, while Hassan Tambakti a…

Yamal scores as Spain thrash Saudi Arabia in World Cup action

Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 in World Cup play, with 16-year-old Lamine Yamal scoring in his first start and Mikel Oyarzabal adding two goals. Elsewhere, New Zealand defeated Egypt…

Spain Crush Saudi Arabia 4-0 to Move Closer to World Cup Knockout Stage

Spain defeated Saudi Arabia 4-0 on Sunday in the 2026 World Cup. Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal powered the win, and Spain are now close to advancing from the group stage.

World Cup Day 11: Spain Need a Win, Iran Face Another Political Test

World Cup 2026 Day 11 features Spain needing a win over Saudi Arabia after a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde. Iran play Belgium in Inglewood amid political tension, while Uruguay, New Ze…

Should Spain Worry? What a Flat World Cup Debut Really Means

Spain’s 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in its World Cup opener sparked panic and criticism, but the article argues that one poor start does not define a tournament. Historical data and…

Spain leans on Lamine Yamal, while Iran braces for boos

Spain’s 0-0 draw with Cape Verde has deepened pressure on a team relying heavily on injured teenager Lamine Yamal. The preview also says Belgium faces Iran in Los Angeles, where I…

Spain Faces Saudi Arabia as Yamal Remains Doubtful for World Cup Clash

Spain will face Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on Sunday at 19:00, needing a win after an opening draw and with every team in the group on one point. Lamine Yamal remains uncertain, whil…

Cape Verde Goalkeeper Vuzina’s Viral Rise Looks Genuine, with Low Bot Following

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vuzina, 40, went viral after a 0-0 draw with Spain and reached 14.5 million followers. A follower audit estimated only 12.8% are bots, suggesting the surge i…

Moses, football coaches and the burden of results

Rabbi David Stav compares leadership in football and the military to the Torah story of Moses and Aaron at Kadesh. He argues that their failure is judged by the outcome, not only…

Germany Starts 2026 World Cup in Style, But Questions Remain

Germany began the 2026 World Cup with a 7-1 rout of Curaçao, but the article says the team still faces a long rebuilding road after 12 years of disappointment. It highlights coach…

Messi, Kane, Mbappé and Haaland give the opening week of the World Cup a historic feel

The article says the World Cup’s opening week has already produced historic performances from Messi, Kane, Mbappé and Haaland. It argues the expanded format, new rules and VAR hav…

At 38, Lionel Messi breaks Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup hat-trick age record

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria at the 2026 World Cup. At 38, he broke Cristiano Ronaldo's record to become the oldest player ever to score a W…

Cape Verde’s World Cup shock is built on LinkedIn recruiting and a 40-year-old star keeper

Cape Verde stunned Spain 0-0 at the 2026 World Cup, powered by a squad partly built through LinkedIn and a record-setting 40-year-old goalkeeper. Defender Roberto Lopes and keeper…

Can Argentina Break the World Cup Repeat Curse?

Argentina head to the 2026 World Cup as FIFA's top-ranked team and defending champions, aiming to become the first repeat winners since Brazil in 1962. The article says their path…

France Targets a Rare Third Straight World Cup Final

France will enter the 2026 World Cup chasing a third straight final, something only West Germany and Brazil have ever done. Didier Deschamps is leaving after the tournament, and h…

Spain Held by Cape Verde in Shock World Cup Opener

Spain were held 0-0 by Cape Verde in their 2026 World Cup opener in Atlanta. The result drew harsh criticism in Spain and could set up an early knockout clash with Argentina if Sp…

Cape Verde Goalkeeper Vozinha Could Turn World Cup Fame into Big Earnings

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha became a World Cup standout after a 0-0 draw with Spain, making seven saves and winning man of the match. His Instagram following jumped to 5.5 milli…

World Cup Day 5 Full of Surprises as Cape Verde Stuns Spain and Iran Is Booed

Day 5 of the 2026 World Cup produced four draws, including Cape Verde's shock 0-0 with Spain. Iran and New Zealand drew 2-2 in a politically charged match, while Egypt and Uruguay…

Spain’s goalless draw exposes a familiar problem in World Cup opener

Spain opened the 2026 World Cup with a surprising 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, despite dominating possession and passes. The team was criticized in Spain for bland, ineffective at…

Saudi Arabia and Uruguay meet in Miami with both seeking an opening win

Saudi Arabia played Uruguay in Miami in a Group H World Cup match, with Georgios Donis facing Marcelo Bielsa’s rebuilt Uruguay side. Uruguay were without Luis Suárez and Edinson C…

Huge World Cup upset turns a $400,000 bet into $4.7 million

A Polymarket bettor turned a $400,000 wager into about $4.7 million after Spain failed to beat Cape Verde. The 0-0 draw was a major World Cup upset and Cape Verde's first-ever Wor…

Spain Held to Shock Goalless Draw by Cape Verde in World Cup Opener

Spain opened the 2026 World Cup with a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde on June 15, 2026. The result left Spain on one point, while Spanish media heavily criticized coach Luis de la Fu…

Ferran Torres misses Spain’s biggest chance in World Cup opener

Spain had a difficult start against Cape Verde in its World Cup 2026 opener and went scoreless through the first 60 minutes. Ferran Torres missed the game’s best chance in the 39t…

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Varela Gets a Career-Changing Chance Against Spain

Helio Varela, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s 24-year-old winger, could use Cape Verde’s World Cup match against Spain to transform his career. The article says a big performance could raise h…

Lamine Yamal Leaves Israeli Fans Torn Over the “Artist vs. Person” Question

Sport 5 published an opinion column on June 15, 2026 about Israeli anger over Lamine Yamal waving a Palestinian flag at Barcelona’s title celebration. The writer says Yamal’s tale…

World Cup Day 5: Spain Opens Against Cape Verde as Iran’s Match Draws Political Attention

Spain begins its 2026 World Cup campaign against debutant Cape Verde, while Belgium faces Egypt and Uruguay plays Saudi Arabia. The day’s most politically charged match is Iran ve…

Marc Cucurella signs long-term deal with Real Madrid

Marc Cucurella has signed a six-year deal with Real Madrid after leaving Chelsea, in a transfer reported at about 60 million euros. Jose Mourinho is said to have pushed for the mo…

De la Fuente says Williams and Yamal will start on the bench for Spain's World Cup opener

Lamine Yamal Shops Unnoticed in Georgia Ahead of Spain's World Cup Opener

Lamine Yamal shared Instagram footage of himself shopping at a Walmart in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, near Spain's World Cup training base. The Spain star, who turns 19 next month…

The 10 Biggest World Cup Shockers, From Bern to Qatar

An article ranks the 10 biggest World Cup upsets in history, from Hungary’s shock loss to West Germany in 1954 to Saudi Arabia’s win over Argentina in 2022. It highlights famous d…