World Cup what to know: Spain and Belgium are looking for their 1st wins after opening with draws

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World Cup what to know: Spain and Belgium are looking for their 1st wins after opening with draws

2026-06-21 06:33 Last Updated At：06:40

Sunday's World Cup action features eight teams looking for their first win of this year's tournament.

Rodri and Spain take on Abdulelah Al-Amri and Saudi Arabia in a Group H game in Atlanta. Romelu Lukaku and Belgium face Iran in Southern California, and New Zealand plays Egypt in another Group G game in Vancouver, British Columbia. Uruguay takes on tiny Cape Verde in the other Group H game.

Each of those eight countries opened with a draw, including a scoreless tie for No. 2 Spain against Cape Verde. Al-Amri scored for Saudi Arabia in a 1-1 game against Uruguay, and there was another 1-1 stalemate for Egypt versus Belgium. New Zealand played Iran to a 2-2 tie.

The four draws last Monday were the most in a single day at the men’s World Cup since 1958. That means Group G and Group H are wide open going into their second day of play.

Spain and Belgium are looking to establish themselves as championship contenders, while a win for Cape Verde would stamp the group of islands off Africa’s West coast as one of the tournament's biggest surprises in its World Cup debut.

—Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, 12 p.m. EDT in Atlanta (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)

—Belgium vs. Iran, 3 p.m. EDT in Inglewood, California (FS1/Telemundo/Peacock)

—Uruguay vs. Cape Verde, 6 p.m. EDT in Miami Gardens, Florida (FS1/Telemundo/Peacock)

—New Zealand vs. Egypt, 9 p.m. EDT in Vancouver, British Columbia (FS1/Telemundo/Peacock)

Lamine Yamal was the big talking point again for Spain ahead of its game against Saudi Arabia.

Coach Luis de la Fuente was inundated with questions about his star forward and how much of a role he would play after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Yamal was a second-half substitute for Spain’s draw against Cape Verde, and De la Fuente would not confirm if the 18-year-old winger would start against Saudi Arabia.

“He’s feeling well, that’s the best news,” De la Fuente said. “The main thing is that he’s back ... and that he’s extremely eager to do things well in this championship.”

European champion Spain is one of the World Cup favorites, but it has not advanced beyond the round of 16 since winning the tournament in 2010.

“There’s no despair. We are motivated,” De la Fuente said.

Belgium’s Jérémy Doku will not play against Iran because of an illness. The Manchester City winger has been ruled out for the match at SoFi Stadium.

The speedy Doku started Belgium’s World Cup opener and played into the 86th minute of its draw with Egypt. Doku reportedly left a practice early due to breathing issues during the week before the opening match.

Doku has been in the spotlight in recent days after telling reporters that he planned to leave the team if necessary for the birth of his first child during the World Cup. Doku’s wife is due in early July, during the knockout stages.

Belgium is 10th in FIFA’s world rankings, but it needs a strong result against Iran to stay on track to win its group. The Red Devils finish group-stage play against New Zealand on Friday.

— US early success raising World Cup hopes and expectations

— Larger World Cup led to predictions of lopsided affairs. The results tell a different story

— Pink boots are everywhere at the World Cup as the color becomes a soccer star

— Brazil's Raphinha has hamstring injury and will undergo treatment

— World Cup fans flood stadiums with dazzling costumes and flags, in photos

— Netherlands beats Sweden in Houston and other World Cup Day 10 highlights, in photos

The Netherlands reached 100 World Cup goals when Brian Brobbey scored twice in the first half of Saturday's 5-1 victory over Sweden. It became the eighth country to hit that milestone, joining Brazil, Germany, Argentina, France, Italy, Spain and England.

AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Trump tries to blame Reflecting Pool woes on vandalism, without offering substantiation

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that federal authorities had made “multiple arrests” of people he said were vandalizing the Reflecting Pool as he struggled to explain why the $14-million-plus rehabilitation project he launched for the nation's 250th anniversary seemingly backfired.

Trump said his predecessors had let the pool turn an algae-stained green and that he'd line it with “American flag blue” so it better reflected the Washington Monument. But after the new pool was unveiled, its blue tinge quickly became a familiar green. Workers treated it with chemicals to kill the algae, but then the painted blue lining on the bottom began to peel.

On Friday night, Trump posted about the pool.

“We’ve had some real problems with Vandalism at the beautiful Reflecting Pool," he posted on his social media site Friday night. "Just like three days ago, they destroyed the grass outside of the Pool, they’ve also done everything possible to hurt the inside surface that was just installed.”

He offered no details to substantiate his claim.

Agencies responsible for law enforcement and upkeep on the National Mall — the U.S. Park Police, National Park Service and Interior Department — did not respond to requests for comment. Trump on Saturday followed up by posting that Park Police “have arrested multiple individuals for vandalizing our Nations magnificent Reflecting Poll," correcting his spelling to “Pool” later.

He went on: "Who would do such a thing? These are very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of National Monuments. Years in jail!”

One man arrested was David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, who owned a company that made composite used to build watercraft. He said he stopped by the pool during his 64-mile bike ride Friday to see what was going on.

Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, told The Associated Press that he reached into the pool because he wanted to examine the peeling new coating. He said he briefly touched a chunk that was still attached to the side of the pool, then let go shortly after a park worker told him to.

But, Hearn said, he was then detained by National Guard troops and Park Police for five hours before being released Friday night.

“I'm a curious citizen,” Hearn said in a telephone interview. “I reached down to see what it felt like. It was very rubbery.”

The Washington Post first reported Hearn's arrest, and he said he has a date to appear in court next month and is looking for legal help.

Even if someone pulled ribbons of paint from the side of the pool, it would not explain the clouds of algae in green water and swaths of loose blue paint detached from the bottom.

Trump insisted something nefarious has been going on at the scene. “No different than the chemicals that were used on the National Mall, they used something similar in the Reflecting Pool to try to destroy and demean our beautiful work,” he posted Friday evening.

That was an apparent reference to the discovery of large numbers etched in discolored grass on the National Mall the week before: “86 47.” Authorities said the numbers could have been meant as a threat to Trump, the 47th president. The number 86 can be slang for “getting rid of.” They are investigating.

Trump's claims came after days of negative attention to the state of the pool, which has drawn television cameras and curious onlookers.