Spain and Japan Run Riot While Three Games Stall

The Short Version

June 21 split cleanly in two. Spain dismantled Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Atlanta, with 18-year-old Lamine Yamal scoring on his first World Cup start and Mikel Oyarzabal striking twice before the break. Hours earlier, in the 1,000th match in World Cup history, Japan crushed Tunisia 4-0 and knocked the Carthage Eagles out. Either side of those two routs sat three deadlocks: Uruguay were pegged back to 2-2 by tournament debutants Cabo Verde, Belgium finished with ten men in a goalless draw with Iran, and Ecuador and Curaçao cancelled each other out.

A day that split in two

Eight goals arrived in two matches. Across the other three, none did at all.

That contrast is the story of June 21. The second round of Groups E through H delivered two of the most one-sided results of the tournament so far — both 4-0 — bracketed by three games that never found a way through. For the favourites who clicked, the margins flattered; for the sides that stalled, a point apiece kept the maths alive without settling anything. By nightfall, only one of these four groups had its second round fully behind it, and only one team had been eliminated.

Group H: Spain take charge, Cabo Verde keep defying the odds

Spain needed ten minutes. Yamal, handed his first start of the tournament by Luis de la Fuente, opened the scoring in Atlanta to become the eighth-youngest scorer in men’s World Cup history. Oyarzabal then took over, scoring twice inside two-and-a-half minutes before half-time, and both players were withdrawn at the interval with the game already gone. An own goal from Hassan Al-Tambakti made it four after the break; a late Ferran Torres strike was ruled out for offside. De la Fuente afterwards played down any fitness concern over Yamal, insisting the teenager could have stayed on.

The other half of the group was far less comfortable for the seeds. In Miami, Cabo Verde — playing in their first World Cup — came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Uruguay. Kevin Pina drove a long-range free kick past Fernando Muslera for the islanders’ first goal at a World Cup, before Maxi Araújo and Agustín Canobbio struck either side of it to put Uruguay ahead by the interval. Just after the hour, Hélio Varela capitalised on a Muslera error to level again, and the 40-year-old goalkeeper’s mistake left Uruguay with two draws from two. Cabo Verde, who had already held Spain in their opener, now have a genuine shout at the knockout rounds. FIFA’s official report has the full sequence.

Group F: Japan mark the 1,000th World Cup match in style

There could hardly have been a tidier way to reach a round number. Japan’s 4-0 win over Tunisia was the 1,000th match in World Cup history, and the Samurai Blue treated the occasion as a statement, recording the biggest winning margin by an Asian nation at a World Cup.

Daichi Kamada flicked them ahead inside four minutes from Keito Nakamura’s cross. Ayase Ueda added a precise 18-yard finish before the half hour, Junya Ito made it three on 69 minutes, and Ueda completed his brace seven minutes from time, as Sky Sports detailed. Japan’s intensity never let Tunisia settle. FIFA’s match report underlines how clinical the performance was. The result eliminated Tunisia, who have lost both of their games, and lifted Japan level on points at the top of the group with a final fixture against Sweden to come.

Group G: Belgium go down to ten, Iran hold firm

If Spain and Japan made it look simple, Group G was a reminder of how stubborn this stage can be. Belgium and Iran played out a goalless draw in Los Angeles that swung on a 66th-minute red card: Nathan Ngoy miscued a backpass and then fouled Mehdi Taremi to deny a clean run on goal, leaving Belgium to see out the final half-hour a man light. Taremi had already had a first-half free kick ruled out for offside by VAR. Both goalkeepers were busy, and Belgium actually carved the better late chances despite the numerical disadvantage; FIFA’s report covers the flashpoints. It finished as a second straight draw for each side, both now on two points.

Group E: Ecuador and Curaçao cancel out

The quietest result of the day came in Group E, where Ecuador and Curaçao drew 0-0. Neither side could break through, and the point did little to change a group already shaped by Germany’s fast start. For Curaçao, among the smallest nations ever to reach a World Cup, a clean sheet against a South American side was its own kind of progress; for Ecuador, a second game without a goal is starting to look like a problem.

What it means for the tables

Only Group H completed its second round on the day, and it left Spain in control on four points, with Uruguay and Cabo Verde both on two and Saudi Arabia, who have conceded five in two games, facing elimination.

In Group F, Japan moved level on four points with the Netherlands at the top, Sweden sit a point back, and Tunisia are out. In Group G, Iran and Belgium are tied on two points apiece, the group still wide open with a round to play. And in Group E, the two draws below Germany keep every qualification permutation alive bar the leaders’.

The second round of these groups concludes over the coming days, and on this evidence the gap between the sides finding their range and those still searching for a goal is the widest it has been all tournament.

Frequently asked questions

Which teams played on June 21, 2026? Five second-round group matches were played: Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia and Uruguay 2-2 Cabo Verde in Group H, Tunisia 0-4 Japan in Group F, Belgium 0-0 Iran in Group G, and Ecuador 0-0 Curaçao in Group E.

How did Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4-0? Lamine Yamal opened the scoring after ten minutes on his first World Cup start, Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice before half-time, and an own goal from Hassan Al-Tambakti completed the rout after the break.

Why was Japan vs Tunisia a milestone match? It was the 1,000th match in World Cup history. Japan marked it with a 4-0 win — the biggest victory margin by an Asian nation at a World Cup — through goals from Daichi Kamada, an Ayase Ueda brace, and Junya Ito.

Who scored in Uruguay’s 2-2 draw with Cabo Verde? Kevin Pina and Hélio Varela scored for Cabo Verde, who twice came from behind. Maxi Araújo and Agustín Canobbio replied for Uruguay, before goalkeeper Fernando Muslera’s error allowed the equaliser.

Why did Belgium finish with ten men against Iran? Defender Nathan Ngoy was sent off in the 66th minute after miscuing a backpass and then fouling Mehdi Taremi to prevent a clear scoring chance. The match ended 0-0.

Is Tunisia out of the 2026 World Cup? Yes. Tunisia have lost both of their group matches and can no longer advance from Group F.

How do Groups E to H look after the second round? Germany lead Group E, Spain lead Group H, and Japan and the Netherlands are level at the top of Group F. Group G remains tied with Iran and Belgium on two points each. Several groups still have their second round to finish.

When do these groups finish the group stage? The final round of matches in Groups E through H is played over the following days, with the remaining qualification places still to be decided.