Spain’s World Cup campaign started about as flat as it gets. A scoreless draw against Cabo Verde in the group opener wasn’t in anyone’s script. Not the fans. Not the analysts who had Spain rolling through Group A. And certainly not Lamine Yamal, who came off the bench for 20 minutes and couldn’t find the net.
But the teenager isn’t panicking. In fact, he’s making a promise.
“On Sunday, we will go to achieve that win, and of course, we will bring out our playing style and show who we are. Together, we will overcome everything. I’m also sure that we will all be together on July 19. See you soon, a hug to everyone,” Yamal told TVE, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.
That July date is significant. If Spain is still alive in the World Cup by July 19, they’re playing in the final. That’s not just confidence. That’s a 17-year-old putting his name on a pretty big prediction.
A slow start that feels familiar
Spain came into this tournament as a favorite for some. The talent is there. Yamal, Pedri, Rodri — the names are good. But soccer doesn’t care about names. Cabo Verde defended well, Spain had no answers, and the match ended 0-0.
It’s not the first time Spain has stumbled out of the gate in a major tournament. They’ve been slow starters before and still found ways to advance. The good news? The group isn’t impossible. Saudi Arabia is next.
That’s the game Yamal is pointing to. A chance to reset. A chance to put three points on the board and quiet the noise.
What’s at stake next
After Saudi Arabia, Spain faces Uruguay. That could be the match that decides everything, especially if goal difference becomes a factor in group standings. Spain needs to start scoring, and they need to do it soon.
Yamal logged 19 passes and two shots against Cabo Verde. Neither shot was on target. He’ll likely get more minutes against Saudi Arabia, and the team will need him to be sharper in the final third.
No one is writing Spain off yet. But a draw against Cabo Verde is the kind of result that makes you wonder. The next match will tell us a lot. And Yamal seems to think he already knows how it ends.
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