Spain Coach Criticizes Opponent After Scoreless Draw in World Cup Opener

Spain faced a challenging start in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, narrowly escaping defeat with a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, who was competing in its inaugural World Cup match. The encounter took place in front of 67,640 spectators at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Despite dominating possession, Spain was unable to find the back of the net, thanks in large part to Cape Verde's goalkeeper, Vozinha, who made seven crucial saves.

The match left Group H in a four-way tie after first-round games, as Saudi Arabia and Uruguay also finished their match in a 1-1 deadlock. Spain's head coach, Luis de la Fuente, expressed frustration over his team's performance but did not shy away from criticizing their opponents. “This team was clearly inferior to us, but they did the things they had to do well,” he remarked, emphasizing the competitive nature of this World Cup.

De la Fuente remained optimistic about Spain's prospects, noting, “We have to keep growing. With the talent these players have, that’s the way. We’re calm. This is a long tournament, and in our heads we’ve still got seven games left.” The coach expressed confidence that his team would be better prepared for their next match against Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Spain has not lost in their last 32 matches, and De la Fuente believes this reliability will serve them well moving forward. The surprising outcome against Cape Verde highlighted the unpredictability of the tournament, as Spain entered the competition ranked third in the FIFA standings. Other notable results included Belgium's comeback to tie Egypt 1-1 on the same day.