MADRID — Mikel Oyarzabal struck twice as Spain stayed perfect in FIFA World Cup qualifying with a 4–0 win in Georgia, moving closer to a 2026 berth. Belgium, meanwhile, drew 1–1 in Kazakhstan and missed a chance to seal qualification.
Luis de la Fuente’s side has scored 19 times while conceding zero goals in five group victories. The European champion is poised to wrap up a spot in the finals when it meets Turkey on Tuesday in its last qualifier, AP reported.
Spain leads Group E by three points over Turkey, which beat Bulgaria 2-0.
The only way the Turks could pip Spain for the top spot and grab a direct ticket to the World Cup would be by winning in Seville by a huge margin.
A tiebreaker would be decided by goal difference. Spain is on +19, while Turkey is on +5.
The home side didn’t miss injured stars Lamine Yamal, Pedri Gonzalez or Rodri against the overmatched Georgia.
The Real Sociedad striker Oyarzabal led Spain with his two goals and an assist. Martín Zubimendi and Ferran Torres also scored as their team was up 3-0 by halftime.
Oyarzabal opened the scoring with a penalty in the 11th minute and headed in the fourth goal in the 63rd. Marcos Llorente cleared a late Georgia shot from the goal-line to protect Spain’s run of clean sheets.
Belgium was held to a 1-1 draw in Kazakhstan and missed a chance to qualify for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Rudi Garcia’s side can still advance with a win over Liechtenstein on Tuesday in their final qualifier.
Belgium leads Group J with two points more than North Macedonia.
The draw in Astana guaranteed the Belgians will finish in the top two. The 12 group winners from European qualification go directly to the World Cup. The continent’s remaining four berths are decided by a playoff of the dozen runners-up.
Kazakhstan took a ninth-minute lead through 17-year-old Dastan Satpayev. Hans Vanaken leveled for Belgium in the 48th when the Club Brugge midfielder headed in a cross by Timothy Castagne.
But Belgium, which had routed Kazahkstan 6-0 in September, was unable to take advantage of playing with an extra man from the 79th minute after Islam Chesnokov was red carded for a hard challenge on Jeremy Doku.
Spain will host Turkey on Tuesday in the final group match, with Vincenzo Montella’s side three points behind them after beating Bulgaria 2-0.
For Spain not to progress to the World Cup directly from the group, Turkey would have to win by seven goals or more.
La Roja were without star winger Lamine Yamal, as well as other key players in Rodri Hernandez, Dani Carvajal and Nico Williams, but still eased to victory in Tbilisi.
Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot, with Martin Zubimendi and Ferran Torres extending their lead in the first half, before Oyarzabal netted again.
They have all but assured a 13th consecutive World Cup berth, scoring 19 goals in the group without conceding any, AFP reported.
De la Fuente told his players that they were on their way to becoming “legendary” after their Euro 2024 triumph and Spain delivered a ruthless performance to make light work of the hosts.
Giorgi Gocholeishvili handled Torres’s effort to give away an early penalty, which Oyarzabal dispatched calmly for his 20th Spain goal, and the 100th of the De la Fuente era.
Spain dominated the ball and Alex Baena hit the post before Fabian Ruiz slipped in Zubimendi to finish with aplomb for the second after 22 minutes.
Oyarzabal set up Torres to strike from close range for the third as the visitors ran riot.
Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili deflected Oyarzabal’s shot to safety as Spain nearly grabbed a fourth before the break.
Oyarzabal nodded home his second after 63 minutes from Torres’s cross to put further shine on a straightforward victory.
Pau Cubarsi deflected the ball against his own post late on as Georgia threatened to become the first side to score against Spain in the group but could not find a way through.
Defeat means Willy Sagnol’s Georgia, who impressed at Euro 2024, can no longer reach the playoffs, dashing their dreams of reaching a World Cup finals for the first time.
The United States, fueled by goals from Gio Reyna and Folarin Balogun, beat Paraguay 2-1 in a clash of World Cup-bound teams marred by a stoppage time brawl.
Balogun scored the game-winner in the 71st minute in a match that had been tied since the 10th.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men had successfully held off a determined late assault by Paraguay when things suddenly turned ugly in injury time.
Paraguay’s Gustavo Gomez had picked up the ball for a throw-in when American Alex Freeman apparently disagreed and tried to grab it. A shoving match ensued with players rushing in from both sides.