Mikel Oyarzabal is confirmed in Spain’s squadfor the game against Saudi Arabia this Sunday (21), in the second round of Group H of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Real Sociedad striker starts among the starters and is one of the main references in Luis de la Fuente’s attack at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in Atlanta.
Spain is looking for its first victory after the goalless draw with Cape Verde in the debut. Saudi Arabia arrives after a 1-1 draw against Uruguay and dreams of making life more complicated for the Europeans.
Spain line-up confirmed
Luis de la Fuente formed the team in 4-2-3-1:
- Spain (4-2-3-1):Unai Simón; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri (captain); Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Álex Baena;Mikel Oyarzabal.
Oyarzabal, experienced and with an eye for goal, should be the center forward responsible for converting the chances created by Spain, who dominated the first match with 27 shots, but were left with zero.
Saudi Arabia line-up confirmed
Georgios Donis should repeat the formation that held Uruguay:
- Saudi Arabia (5-3-2):Mohammed Al-Owais; Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Al-Tambakti, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Ali Lajami, Moteb Al-Harbi; Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Musab Al-Juwayr, Salem Al-Dawsari (captain); Firas Al-Buraikan and another attacker.
The Asian team prioritizes solid defense and quick transitions, with Salem Al-Dawsari as the main threat.
Where to watch live
In Brazil, transmission is fromDisney+, with alternatives on Prime Video and YouTube CazéTV. Kick-off is scheduled for 1pm (Brasília time).
Oyarzabal’s importance for the Spanish reaction
Mikel Oyarzabal is going through a good moment and is a key player in providing depth and finishing to Spain’s attack, European runner-up. His presence as a starter helps solve the main problem seen in the debut: the lack of effectiveness. A victory today is essential for La Roja to regain favoritism in Group H, where they occupy third place.
For Saudi Arabia, repeating their defensive performance against Uruguay could yield a positive result against one of the strongest teams in the FIFA rankings (#2 against #61).
The referee will be Brazilian Raphael Claus. The game at the Atlanta stadium promises to be an important test for Spain’s aspirations in the tournament