Spain concludes World Cup warm-up with 3-1 victory over Peru
Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedri scored early as Spain secured a comfortable win in Puebla, though coach Luis de la Fuente faces selection decisions with Lamine Yamal and others potentially returning for the June 15 clash against Cape Verde.
Spain finalised its World Cup preparations with a 3-1 victory over Peru in Puebla, Mexico, on Monday. The result, secured by early goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedri, provided a positive conclusion to the squad’s pre-tournament camp, despite the absence of several key attacking players due to injury.
Oyarzabal opened the scoring in the second minute, establishing an early advantage for the Spanish side. Pedri doubled the lead in the 32nd minute, putting Spain in control of the match. The scoreline was extended to 3-0 in the 53rd minute following an own goal by Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. Jairo Vélez scored a consolation goal for Peru in the 66th minute.
The match served as a final test for Spain ahead of their World Cup opener against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta. However, the team’s preparations were marked by the absence of Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Víctor Muñoz. All three players missed the fixture due to injuries and remained at the team’s training base in Tennessee.
Yamal has not played since April 22 due to an injured left hamstring. While his recovery timeline remains uncertain, coach Luis de la Fuente indicated that Yamal, Williams, and Muñoz could be available for the opening match against Cape Verde. Their availability for the subsequent fixtures against Saudi Arabia on June 21 in Atlanta and Uruguay on June 26 in Guadalajara, Mexico, remains contingent on their physical condition.
Peru, which missed out on qualification for the World Cup, participated in the friendly as part of its international schedule. The match provided Spain with a final opportunity to assess its squad depth and tactical cohesion before the tournament begins.
