Saudi Arabia coach Georgios Donis admitted his side were unable to cope with Spain’s attacking quality after a 4-0 defeat in their second Group H match at the 2026 World Cup on Sunday in Atlanta. The result left the Green Falcons with one point from two matches, following a draw against Uruguay in their opening game.
Spain took control early, with Lamine Yamal scoring in the 10th minute before Mikel Oyarzabal added a quick double in the 21st and 24th minutes. An own goal by Hassan Altambakti shortly after halftime completed the scoring and underlined Saudi Arabia’s defensive collapse against one of the tournament favorites.
The heavy loss stood in sharp contrast to Saudi Arabia’s earlier performance against Uruguay, but Donis said the difference came down to errors under pressure and Spain’s efficiency in and around the penalty area.
“We were not strong enough to stop Spain around our penalty area. We made too many mistakes,” Donis said, according to FIFA. “When the match does not go well and you concede three quick goals, you feel insecure.”
Donis acknowledged his team spent much of the match under pressure and struggled to respond to Spain’s intensity, particularly after falling behind early. He said the psychological impact of conceding in quick succession made it difficult for his players to regain control.
“We calmed the team, but we were affected. This is something we often see in big tournaments,” he added.
The Saudi coach also singled out Spain winger Lamine Yamal, who opened the scoring and consistently troubled the defensive line with his pace and one-on-one ability. Yamal’s performance, Donis said, highlighted the difference in individual quality at the highest level.
“Everyone can see that when you have a player like Yamal, with his individual characteristics and one-on-one ability, they make a difference,” Donis said.
He added that the Barcelona forward is still developing physically but already has the tools to become even more influential as his fitness improves.
“He often does this in Spain, and as his fitness improves, he will become even more effective,” Donis said.
Yamal’s goal marked his first at a World Cup, adding to his growing reputation after making his senior debut for Spain in 2023.
