Spain will look to shake off a shocking result against Cabo Verde in their opener as they take on Saudi Arabia in an important Group H match to begin the 2026 World Cup schedule on Sunday. The Spaniards couldn’t find an answer against a resilient Cabo Verde defense in the scoreless draw. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, had to leave their opener against Uruguay satisfied with a 1-1 draw. All four teams in the group have just one point, leaving this a critical match for both sides’ chances of advancing. 

Kickoff is noon ET from Atlanta Stadium. The latest Spain vs. Saudi Arabia odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list the Spaniards as -1000 favorites (risk $1,000 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line, with Saudi Arabia at +2000 and a draw at +950. The over/under for total goals is 3.5. Before locking in any Spain vs. Saudi Arabia picks or World Cup 2026 predictions, check out the Saudi Arabia vs. Spain predictions from SportsLine’s Martin Green.

After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Last year, Green was profitable in multiple areas on his soccer betting picks, including the Champions League (+211.25) and Bundesliga (+100). He’s also been red-hot in 2026, posting an 18-8 record over his last 26 UCL picks, returning nearly $1,000 in profit. Anyone wanting to follow his World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could see big returns.

Now, Green has studied Spain vs. Saudi Arabia and just revealed his 2026 World Cup picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several World Cup odds and soccer betting lines for Saudi Arabia vs. Spain:

Top Saudi Arabia vs. Spain predictions

After examining Spain vs. Saudi Arabia from every angle, Green is leaning Under 3.5 total goals (-142). Green notes that Spain
badly missed wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams during the opener. Both were deemed unfit to start, and came on as late subs. It’s unclear how they’ll be utilized at this point, but Green remains at least somewhat concerned about their attack until that is figured out.

On the other end, Spain was stout on defense and should be able to continue that against a Saudi Arabia squad that doesn’t feature many big-time offensive playmakers. “La Roja look perfectly capable of keeping a clean sheet against Saudi Arabia,” Green said. See Green’s best bets for Spain vs. Saudi Arabia at SportsLine, and you can bet the Under in Saudi Arabia vs. Spain at FanDuel here:

How to make Spain vs. Saudi Arabia picks

After studying Spain vs. Saudi Arabia from every angle, Green has locked in a pair of best bets. You can head to SportsLine to see what they are. 

So what are the best bets for Saudi Arabia vs. Spain? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, all from expert on an 18-8 roll on UCL picks, and find out.

Curaçao earned the first World Cup point in their history after holding Ecuador to a goalless draw in Group E on Saturday night.

The hero of the match was veteran goalkeeper Eloy Room, who produced an outstanding display to keep Ecuador out despite constant pressure throughout the game.

Eloy Room Can Compete with the Best

The biggest lesson from the match was the importance of an experienced goalkeeper. Room made 15 saves, one of the highest totals ever recorded in a World Cup match.

The 37-year-old bounced back brilliantly after conceding seven goals against Germany in Curaçao’s opening game. His performance proved that experience and determination can make a huge difference on football’s biggest stage.

Ecuador’s Finishing Remains a Major Problem

Ecuador created plenty of chances and finished the match with 27 attempts on goal, but they failed to score.

Despite dominating possession and attacking for most of the game, Sebastián Beccacece’s side lacked the quality needed to break down Curaçao’s defence. Their inability to convert chances could prove costly in the race for a place in the knockout rounds.

Curaçao Showed Great Character

Many expected Curaçao to struggle after their heavy defeat to Germany, but the Caribbean nation responded impressively.

The players defended with discipline, worked hard for each other and never gave up. Their resilience helped them secure a historic result against a team that was widely expected to win.

Germany Benefit from the Result

The draw was also good news for Germany. After beating Ivory Coast earlier in the day, Germany became the first team from Group E to qualify for the knockout stage.

Group E Remains Open

While Germany have secured qualification, the battle for the second place is still wide open.

Ecuador now face a difficult final group match against Germany and may need a positive result to progress. Curaçao also remain in contention and could still reach the knockout stage if they defeat Ivory Coast in their final group game.

For Curaçao, however, the night belonged to Eloy Room, whose remarkable goalkeeping display delivered a historic first World Cup point for his country.

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — It is a chance. No matter how unlikely it may be. No matter what adjective is attached to it. No matter the number of strokes between him and the top, the subject remains the same. 

Chance.

And it is that very chance that belongs to Scottie Scheffler.

Wyndham Clark grabbed hold of the U.S. Open trophy on Saturday evening as the wind laid down, the crowds processioned out and Shinnecock Hills turned ripe for the picking. As shadows grew longer and the hour more golden, Clark’s lead en route to the silver grew with both.

On a day where only two players broke par before him, Clark nearly became the third before a short miss on the last made his even-par 70 official. An eagle on the par-5 15th pushed his lead out to seven. The margin he will sleep on is half a dozen instead.

An environment that was already on the quieter side due to later tee times and a logistical nightmare for fans to get home was just about put to bed in the arms of Clark’s stranglehold. Most of the oxygen was taken out of the championship. But not all. Life can still be injected back into it. The flatline can start beeping again and largely due to the man who will share the spotlight in the final pairing with Clark on Sunday.

The world No. 1.

Scheffler came into this week facing his first opportunity to complete the career grand slam. As he puts his head on the pillow Saturday night and wakes up on Sunday morning, that opportunity still exists.

That in itself is rare.

2026 U.S. Open tee times, pairings: Complete schedule for Round 4 on Sunday at Shinnecock Hills

Robby Kalland

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“It’s appropriate to understand what’s at stake. I’ve worked really hard for a long time to have a chance to win golf tournaments and to win major championships,” Scheffler said. “Yeah, I think understanding the moment and giving it your best shot I think is all part of the process.

“Like I said, we want to be in these positions. This is why we practice and play, to have the opportunity to win golf tournaments, and that’s what tomorrow is. I have an opportunity to go out there and have a great round and give myself a chance to win the tournament. Going into tomorrow right now I think I’m five shots back, but we’ll see what happens as the day goes on. I could be 7 shots back and could be 3 shots back. I don’t know what it’s going to be.”

Phil Mickelson may have finished runner up in this championship on six separate occasions — including here in 2004 — but none those represented a plate appearance with the grand slam on the line. In fact, his best result after raising the Claret Jug in 2013 was a T28 the very next year. He finished inside the top 50 only one time after that.

Jordan Spieth is a Wanamaker Trophy away from completing his collection. He finished third at Bethpage Black in 2019 for his best result in his quest, but even the three-time major champion has admitted the performance was flash and mirrors and never did he feel like he had a true chance.

That leads us to the man who completed the task most recently in Rory McIlroy. After he collected the first three major trophies, he had six top-10 finishes in the Masters before he finally slipped on the green jacket last spring. Of those results, however, the 2018 tournament was his lone quality opportunity as he played in the final pairing with eventual champion Patrick Reed.

For the early portions of Saturday’s round, it appeared as if Scheffler’s chance had slipped through his grasp. He started his day by making a 10-foot putt for bogey. Another square came calling on the very next and before Clark had even stepped onto the golf course, Scheffler’s score to par was nine worse than the leader’s.

A missed opportunity on a rare scoring look on the par-5 5th did not help the cause. Noise swirled with the wind around the property but none of it was at the back of Scheffler’s until it was. He did what most everyone else could not do and found the putting surface on the par-4 10th from down in the valley with just a wedge in hand. 

Three holes later, he evaded arrest, stole from the cookie jar and chipped in for birdie from long of the 14th green. The first Scheffler roar. Another came on the next. And one more on the par-5 16th where he held a fairway wood against the right-to-left wind to find the surface in two. A roar came with his second, but did not follow suit with his third as his eagle putt could not find the bottom of the cup. Still, his birdie grew hope.

“You can hit a lot of good shots and end up in some spots where you’re going to be frustrated with the result, but I think that’s part of the U.S. Open test,” Scheffler said. “We did a good job of staying patient and stealing some shots where we could. The back nine definitely stole a couple shots.”

Clark’s advantage at the 54-hole mark is rare. The six-stroke margin trails only Tiger Woods’ 10-stroke edge in 2000 and McIlroy’s eight-shot lead in 2011 as the largest since World War II. It has been a historic performance up to this point and more can be made should a second U.S. Open trophy be hoisted above his head.

In all likelihood, Clark wins this championship. It’s true, 18 holes is a lot of golf — especially in a major championship — and anything can happen, but it is also true that six strokes is an awful lot. He’s playing some of the best golf of his life, is confident and can’t miss with the putter in hand. He has a major pedigree and has done this before.

And while a chance to crown a U.S. Open champion comes around every summer, a chance to anoint a new grand slam champion does not. A historic lead does not make that any less true tomorrow because the opportunity still exists — no matter how slim it may be, it still remains in the realm of possibilities with 18 holes to play.

Manny Pacquiao has reflected on the serious punching ability of one of his past rivals.

Pacquiao has taken on all comers throughout his lengthy professional career, which began back in 1995 as a 16-year-old and still continues to this present day.

His first outing came in the light flyweight division, but the Filipino icon would compete as high as super-welterweight on his way to becoming an eight-division world champion, meaning he has shared the ring with some heavy hitters over the years.

Known big punchers such as Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Brandon Rios and Lucas Matthysse are part of that list, while Pacquiao has also taken on legends of the sport like Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya and Juan Manuel Marquez.

It was Marquez who arguably landed the biggest ever shot that Pacquiao received when he knocked out his rival in 2012, but neither Marquez, nor any of the previously mentioned names come to mind for ‘Pac Man’ when discussing the biggest puncher he ever faced.

Instead, Pacquiao told The Ring that four-weight world champion Miguel Cotto takes that honour.

“I can still feel some of those punches he threw at me. Staying on the ropes is not the best place to be when you are fighting him. He’s also accurate. He’s incredible.”

Pacquiao defeated Cotto via 12th round TKO to win the WBO welterweight title in November 2009, but the fight will be fondly remembered for being one of the best of the entire year, with non-stop action from start to finish.

Cotto would claim world honours from super-lightweight to middleweight during his career, as he finished with a record of 41 wins and 6 defeats, with 33 of those wins coming by knockout, displaying the big power that Pacquiao talks about.

Prasidh Krishna, left, is greeted by captain Shubman Gill after his five-wicket haul during the third and final ODI cricket match between India and Afghanistan, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. (PTI Photo)

TimesofIndia.com in Chennai: One of India’s biggest concerns in the lead-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup has been their inability to consistently strike in the middle overs. Between overs 20 and 35, when teams often look to consolidate before launching in the death overs, breakthroughs have come only in patches.The trend has been evident across recent bilateral series. Against Australia, India managed just four wickets in the phase across three matches, while New Zealand exposed the issue further, with India going wicketless in the middle overs in the Rajkot and Indore ODIs, which they eventually lost. South Africa offered a brighter picture as Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna combined for nine wickets across three games.The Afghanistan series continued the mixed returns. India picked up five wickets in the rain-shortened Dharamsala ODI and another five in Lucknow, but managed only one middle-over wicket in Chennai despite dominating the contest.Interestingly, with the team management seeming to lose confidence in left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who has been India’s genuine wicket-taker in the middle overs, Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill will need to find a solution.Captain Gill believes the answer lies in India’s tall fast bowlers: Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana, who he thinks are capable of creating opportunities even when conditions offer little assistance.“Honestly, the combination and the kind of bowlers that we are trying to play are part of what we’re building. We want to create as many opportunities as we can,” Gill told reporters after India sealed a 3-0 win over Afghanistan.“In that middle phase, we’ve seen that once the ball gets a little older on a good wicket, with only four fielders outside the circle, batting becomes much easier. That’s why we’re trying to play bowlers like Prasidh and Harshit. They are tall, fast bowlers who offer us something different.“At the same time, it’s important to give someone like Nitish Kumar Reddy enough overs in the middle, even if we know there might be better options for those conditions who can get us wickets. It’s important for players like him to gain confidence going into the World Cup,” added Gill.Gill said India’s young fast bowlers are being trained to adapt quickly to different surfaces by identifying the ideal length as early as possible. On red-soil wickets, he wants them to bowl fuller, while black-soil pitches demand slightly shorter lengths.The emphasis, he said, is on consistently hitting the top-of-off-stump, around the fourth-stump area – the toughest line for batters to score from. India also wants its pacers to use their natural bounce to keep creating wicket-taking opportunities, even if it occasionally results in extra runs.“It’s about assessing the wicket. Different wickets demand different lengths. On a wicket like this, you have to bowl a little fuller, while on a black-soil wicket, you might have to bowl slightly shorter. As a bowling unit, what we’re trying to do is assess the conditions as early as possible and consistently hit that top-of-off-stump, full-stump area because that’s the hardest ball to score off,” he said.“At the same time, we want to keep using the bounce. It gives batters scoring opportunities as well, but it also creates chances for us to take wickets.”Gill looked pretty pleased with the Indian pace quartet’s performance in this series. It was the debut series for the likes of Gurnoor Brar and Prince Yadav, and the captain felt it was an encouraging sign.

“It’s very encouraging. These are great signs for Indian cricket that we can keep producing fast bowlers who consistently bowl at 140-plus,” said Gill, who was adjudged Player of the Series.“We have a good bunch of tall fast bowlers who can hit the right areas and still create opportunities with the old ball, even when there’s not much help from the wicket or the conditions.”Among the tall fast bowlers, Gurnoor Brar was probably the find of the series. The six-foot-five pacer picked up seven wickets in three games, bowled at rapid pace and extracted good bounce from the surface. But Gill feels Brar has a lot to learn going forward and is hopeful that the 26-year-old pacer will only grow in confidence from here.“I think he ticked most of the boxes. There are some things that only come with experience, and hopefully he’ll keep growing as a bowler.“If I have to be really critical, he did concede a few runs and was a little inconsistent at times. But he’s young, playing his first series at the highest level, and he’s bowling quick. He has all the qualities we want in a young, tall fast bowler, and with experience he’s only going to get better,” said Gill.Prasidh Krishna, another tall fast bowler, blew away Afghanistan on a pitch with some pace and bounce in Chennai, producing a sensational bowling display to claim his maiden ODI five-for.“What he brings to the table is that we saw there was good bounce in the wicket early on and the ball was doing a bit,” said Gill while praising his Gujarat Titans teammate.“If he keeps hitting those areas consistently, he can create a lot of opportunities for us as a bowler. If he continues doing that, it’ll be great for the team.”Gill said India are keeping their fast-bowling plans flexible rather than assigning fixed roles. With Jasprit Bumrah expected to return for the England tour, he indicated that Bumrah could take the new ball, while Prasidh Krishna is equally capable of doing so if required.“It’s about being flexible. There isn’t one fixed role,” Gill said.The captain added that the management is encouraging bowlers to adapt to different combinations and bowl with maximum intensity.“We’re trying different combinations, and we encourage our bowlers to give everything regardless of whether they’re bowling with the new ball or as first change,” he said.“We’ve spoken about giving bowlers like Prasidh and Gurnoor shorter spells of three or four overs and asking them to bowl their hearts out and bowl as fast as they can.”Whether the experiment ultimately succeeds will only become clear closer to the World Cup, but India’s direction is evident. Instead of relying solely on wrist spin for middle-over breakthroughs, the management is investing in a battery of tall fast bowlers who can extract bounce, hit the deck hard and force mistakes even on placid surfaces. If Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana continue to develop, India could head to the World Cup with a very different blueprint for the middle overs.

Alex Eala prepares to serve. —AFP

Alex Eala went on another giant-slaying run, this time in the Berlin Open in Germany, and even as her star continues to rise in the international tennis world, there is one thing that remains constant.

The 21-year-old Filipino sensation never takes for granted the opportunities she gets to play against the best in the world.

The world No. 35, a wildcard in the tournament, defeated World No. 8 Elina Svitolina, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the final four and she immediately paid tribute to her foe.

Major upset

“Elina is a huge fighter, and I’ve seen it many times,” Eala said in her on-court interview after the match on Friday, Berlin time. “I’ve been watching her since I was a kid, so to be able to compete with her today is such an honor, and I really admire her. She’s a mother, and I find her to act with such elegance and strength, and I’m really lucky to have had this match today.”

At press time, Eala was battling eighth seed Linda Noskova, who defeated Spanish wildcard Paula Badosa 6-1, 6-3 earlier on Friday.

Before her quarterfinal victory against Svitolina, Eala created the tournament’s biggest shock, as she upset world number two Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals on Thursday, a win that came at the heels of her triumph over Queen’s Club champion Donna Vekic in the first round.

And as expected, Eala did not just pay tribute to her opponent but took note of what those opportunities to share the court with the top stars of her sport meant to her.

Nothing new

“She’s the one to beat, so I’m happy to have been able to share the court with her again,” she said.

“I am a little foggy right now,” Eala said in her on-court interview. “I’m still shaking, and I was shaking on match point, too. But I’m really happy with today, of course. It could have gone either way. I think there were really tight moments in both sets, and she’s an amazing player.”

Bundling out the top seeds of women’s tennis is nothing new to Eala, who began her rise to tennis stardom as she ripped through top-10 opponents in last year’s Miami Open.

Since then, she has been one of the most sought-after athletes in the tennis world, with her matches always packing venues worldwide. —INQUIRER SPORTS STAFF