Spain vs Saudi Arabia: prediction & betting odds 21 June 2026

Form and Line-up Spain

Spain in the match against Cape Verde did everything except the main thing: 75% possession, 27 shots (seven on target), 804 passes at 93% accuracy – and yet no goals. Under Luis de la Fuente, the team ran into an ultra-compact low block from the debutants, who intelligently closed the central channels and forced attacks only down the flanks with a large number of crosses (40 deliveries, of which only six were accurate).

De la Fuente has already made it clear that in the second round the team must become more vertical and speed up their decision-making. The main hope remains the Rodri–Pedri partnership. Rodri is responsible for controlling the tempo and maintaining balance, while Pedri is capable of finding free pockets between the lines. Lamine Yamal is also expected to play a major role, but his physical condition is still a big question mark.

Key numbers for Spain:

• Spain are unbeaten in normal time in 32 consecutive matches.

• In 8 of the last 11 matches the team have kept a clean sheet.

• Spain have won all three head-to-head matches against Saudi Arabia with an aggregate score of 9:2.

Probable Spain line-up (4-3-3): Unai Simon – Marcos Llorente, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella – Pedri, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz – Ferran Torres, Mikel Oyarzabal, Gavi.

Absentees: Lamine Yamal (doubtful).

Form and Line-up Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia were one of the main surprises of the first round. The team took a point against Uruguay (1:1), and it was anything but accidental. In the first half the Green Falcons looked more organised than their opponents, intelligently closed the central areas and took the lead from a set piece thanks to Abdulelah Al-Amri.

Only after Marcelo Bielsa’s major reshuffle did Uruguay increase the pressure and equalise in the 80th minute. At the same time goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais saved the team several more times and preserved the draw.

Against Spain the workload will be much heavier. If against Uruguay the Saudis were able to launch positional attacks from time to time, here they will have to spend most of the match without the ball. The key figure will again be Al-Owais, who made nine saves in the game against Uruguay. Much will depend on his performance in terms of how long the underdogs can keep their chances of a positive result alive.

Key numbers for Saudi Arabia:

• In four of the previous seven matches the bet "Both teams to score – No" has landed.

• The team have won only once in their last seven matches.

• At the World Cup in 2006 Saudi Arabia narrowly lost 0:1 to Spain.

Probable Saudi Arabia line-up (4-4-2): Mohammed Al-Owais – Saud Abdulhamid, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Hassan Tambakti, Moteb Al-Harbi – Mohammed Al-Shamat, Mohammed Kanno, Abdullah Al-Haibari, Salem Al-Dawsari – Musab Al-Juwayr, Firas Al-Buraikan.

Absentees: –.

Who Will Referee the Match

Rafael Claus (Brazil)

Matches – 14 (international matches, 2025–2026);
Average fouls per match – 23;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellows) – 3.7;
Matches with a red card – 0 of 14;
Matches with a penalty awarded – 4 of 14.