The Saudi Arabia national football team is in the spotlight before facing Spain in World Cup 2026, a crucial match that will determine the team's fate in the tournament. David Raya, the Spanish national team goalkeeper, expressed his confidence in his country's ability to perform better in the upcoming match against Saudi Arabia, scheduled for Sunday. He confirmed that the players' morale was not affected by the disappointing draw in the first round against Cape Verde. The Spanish team, the Euro champion and one of the top contenders for the title, enters its second match in Atlanta, USA, under increasing pressure, especially with the continued recovery of young star Lamine Yamal from injury, and the escalating criticism from Spanish fans and media against the tactical options of coach Luis de la Fuente. Raya said in an interview with ESPN on Friday, commenting on the first round's stumble: We must overcome this and learn from the lessons of this match, we knew it wouldn't be easy. We fully realize that our level must evolve, but our determination and behavior have not been affected at all. He added: We just need a little luck in front of the goal for the ball to settle in the net, and we must be more decisive in finishing our attacks, that's all. Raya has recent experience in dealing with pressure and making a strong comeback, after his time with Arsenal saw a temporary decline in level that almost cost the team the Premier League title, before they regained their balance and finished the season ahead of Manchester City. About this, he commented: It's not just about Arsenal, but about every team that goes through good and bad periods, and in those moments when things aren't going well, you have to keep moving forward and competing. The Spanish goalkeeper continued: Major tournaments like the World Cup are very long, and as we always say, there are many stories that don't start with the ending we want. We can't change what happened in the first match, but we must focus on the second match and raise our expectations to win the three points. The current edition of the World Cup is witnessing a clear struggle for some of the top contenders, as Brazil and Portugal fell into the trap of a draw in the opening round, while other teams achieved big wins, such as Germany's 7-1 victory over Curaçao and England's 4-2 win over Croatia. About these results, Raya said: There are many teams that didn't start perfectly, but we've seen strong teams like Germany, England, and France. The best we can do is focus on ourselves and what we can offer every day, without paying too much attention to what's happening outside or to other teams; to become world champions, you have to beat the best, just like we did in the 2024 European Championship. The Saudi Arabia national football team is looking to achieve a positive result against Spain, after the draw in the first round, and is seeking to win the three points that will bring them closer to qualifying for the next round of the tournament.