Spain vs Saudi Arabia: Top five players to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026 ft. Aymeric Laporte & Salem Al-Dawsari

Aymeric Laporte has played two seasons in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr

Spain and Saudi Arabia will clash at the Atlanta Stadium on Sunday as Group H hangs in the balance. Both nations drew their opening games, and a win for either team will get them very close to qualification for the round of 32.

Here are five players who will be in the spotlight and take charge of the Spain vs Saudi Arabia game in the FIFA World Cup 2026:

5. Aymeric Laporte (Spain)

Aymeric Laporte will be the Joker from Spain’s pack of cards against Saudi Arabia. The central defender shocked everyone when he left Manchester City to join Al Nassr in 2023. However, this move could prove vital in La Roja’s upcoming game, as Laporte would know the Saudi players better than anyone in the Spanish contingent.

Laporte returned from his two-season stint with Al-Nassr to join Athletic Club in 2025, and the 32-year-old is still one of the best defenders that La Roja have. Expect him to lead the Spanish national team’s backline and guide Pau Cubarsi against Saudi Arabia.

4. Abdulelah Al Amri (Saudi Arabia)

Abdulelah Al Amri has been part of the Saudi Arabian national football team since 2017, and prior to that, the central defender also represented his country at the youth level. The 29-year-old has spent most of his career with Al Nassr and has had a couple of short stints with Al Wehda and Al Ittihad.

Al Amri found the back of the net in the 1-1 draw against Uruguay in Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup 2026 opener, and to add to this, 8 defensive contributions and 6 clearances in match week 1. His teammates would be hoping for an even better performance from the defender against a struggling Spanish attack.

3. Rodri (Spain)

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner was on song in matchweek 1 against Cape Verde. Rodri had an astonishing 116 passes and had an expected assists ratio (xA) of 0.44. However, the forwards let La Roja down, failing to score despite taking 27 shots against Cape Verde.

Rodri will once again be at the centre of the Spain national team’s midfield, controlling the tempo of the game alongside the likes of Pedri and Gavi.

Also Read: Preview: Spain vs Saudi Arabia prediction, odds, where to watch, time | FIFA World Cup 2026

2. Salem Al-Dawsari (Saudi Arabia)

Salem Al-Dawsari has been part of the Saudi Arabian setup for more than a decade, and the FIFA World Cup 2026 is his third. The 34-year-old scored in both previous editions, and he remains one of the biggest attacking threats for his nation.

The Al Hilal player had a respectable 2025-26 season, scoring 11 goals and providing 8 assists in 38 games. For his nation, Salem is the current top scorer with 27 goals, and he will be keen to add to this tally at this World Cup.

1. Lamine Yamal (Spain)

Spain has one of the best squads in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, without a doubt. However, their attack seemed to miss their cutting edge against Cape Verde before Lamine Yamal came on in the last 20-odd minutes.

The 18-year-old is already being considered a Ballon d’Or favourite, and strong performances in the World Cup will further cement this claim. Lamine Yamal is known to step up in big games, and La Roja will rely on his pace and trickery to get past a sturdy Saudi defence on Sunday.

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