ATLANTA — As Spain looked for a spark in their first match of the 2026 World Cup, fans were eager to see the team’s star, Lamine Yamal.
The European champions had their opportunities in this 0-0 draw, registering 27 shots, seven of which were on target, with a total expected goals of 2.29. Standout performances came from Ferran Torres and Marc Cucurella, who were particularly active on the left. However, Spain struggled to break down a tenacious and well-organized Cape Verde side, inspired by their 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha, who made seven crucial saves.
Spain ultimately felt the absence of Yamal, who has been prominently featured around Atlanta, his image plastered on billboards. Despite being deemed fit, he did not start, with coach Luis de la Fuente revealing that while Yamal was ready, he wasn’t yet prepared to play the full match. This decision had noticeable consequences.
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In their recent major tournament performance at Euro 2024, Spain’s attacking prowess was driven by the talents of Yamal and Nico Williams. Unfortunately, Williams has struggled for form, while Yamal raced to recover from an injury sustained with Barcelona back in April.
Questions linger about Spain’s World Cup ambitions, especially concerning how they perform without Yamal and an in-form Williams. With neither player firing on all cylinders, these concerns are heightened after Spain’s goalless draw against Cape Verde, a team that ranks as one of the smallest nations by population to compete in the World Cup. Spain created an expected goals (xG) of 2.29 compared to Cape Verde’s 0.29, completing over 700 largely sideways passes throughout the match.
“The moment Lamine came on, you could see the change in how [Cape Verde] played,” de la Fuente stated post-match. “We played him for the amount of time we believed he could manage, and we’re confident that in the next game the team will perform better.”
Historically, Spain has often disappointed in their opening matches at major tournaments. They lost their first match in 2010 and went on to win the World Cup, while they failed to win their opening games in both 2014 and 2018 before scoring a dominant 7-0 victory against Costa Rica in 2022, which turned out to be misleading. In their 14 World Cup appearances prior to 2022, they only won their debut match three times: against Brazil in 1934, Slovenia in 2002, and Ukraine in 2006.
“There’s a remarkable level of competition at this World Cup,” de la Fuente noted. “[Cape Verde] may have been at a disadvantage, but they executed their game plan effectively.
“We must continue to improve. With the talent on this team, that’s our path. We’re focused. This is a long tournament and we still have seven matches ahead of us.”
It’s premature for one of the tournament favorites to panic, especially when Germany dominated with seven goals against Curaçao, Sweden netted five against Tunisia, and the co-host U.S. scored four against Paraguay. Yet, amid all their talent, Spain was left unable to score against Cape Verde.
Lacking reliable alternatives to Williams and Yamal on the flanks, Spain may need to reassess their strategies while waiting for these key players to regain their form and fitness.
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Burley: Cape Verde couldn’t have given a better account of themselves
Prior to the match, Yamal was the last to leave the pitch during warmups — a habit he developed at Barça — engaging with the crowd while his teammates prepared. De la Fuente opted for midfielder Gavi on the left and Torres on the right, resulting in a lack of natural width as fullbacks Cucurella and Marcos Llorente occupied the wings.
Yamal, while a standout, is not Spain’s only star. The team boasts Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and Pedri in midfield. However, de la Fuente positioned Pedri higher up the pitch, pairing him with Mikel Oyarzabal when out of possession, a role Pedri has not filled recently at Barcelona, where he typically drops deeper into a double pivot. As a result, Pedri did not shine in this advanced position.
Spain had several moments that hinted at a potential breakthrough. Torres hit the woodwork in the 39th minute after clever build-up from Cucurella, with Oyarzabal’s follow-up brilliantly saved by Vozinha. Before halftime, Cucurella created another chance for Torres, and Aymeric Laporte‘s header was expertly kept out.
However, these were isolated incidents in a game that called for proactive changes from de la Fuente. Those changes never came, and Yamal was left waiting on the sidelines. De la Fuente engaged in discussions with his coaching staff and medical team about the timing for a substitution.
When Yamal and Mikel Merino were finally called to come on, receiving cheers from the crowd with less than 20 minutes remaining, a water break had already interrupted the second half. Yamal immediately made an impact, trying to take on defenders and creating a chance for Merino, all while urging the fans to be more vocal.
While it provided a much-needed boost, it was too late to shift the outcome. Williams entered in the 87th minute, offering little time to make an impact. Instead, Cape Verde nearly scored in stoppage time when defender Diney Borges saw his downward header from a corner saved easily by Unai Simón.
“This means everything to us,” Cape Verde coach Bubista said after the match, expressing pride in his team’s display. “We showcased our country and demonstrated our organization, courage, and resilience.”
He had urged his team to play fearlessly, and they rose to the occasion.
In his post-match press conference, de la Fuente remained steadfast: Spain’s journey at this World Cup is just beginning.
“This team is dependable, regardless of circumstances,” he asserted. “We haven’t lost in 32 games. We will perform better in the next match, of that we are confident, and that’s what has brought us here.”
“We didn’t arrive without effort. We’re the champions of Europe.”
Nevertheless, this draw amplifies the pressure ahead of Spain’s next fixture against Saudi Arabia on Sunday. The team hopes that a week of training in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will be sufficient for Yamal to regain his fitness and demonstrate his capabilities.