Bulgaria – Spain: Early goal from Oyarzabal gives guests the lead

The teams of Bulgaria and Spain took to the field at the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia to kick off their campaign in the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tension could be felt in the air as the home fans chanted in anticipation of a strong start, but the outcome of the first few minutes proved disappointing for the Bulgarian squad.

European champion Spain left no doubt about their class and took the lead early in the match. In the fifth minute of the encounter, Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi demonstrated an excellent vision of the game, sending a precise pass to his teammate. Striker Mikel Oyarzabal found himself alone against the Bulgarian goalkeeper Svetoslav Vutsov, easily beat him, and scored for a 1:0 lead. This early goal put Bulgaria at a disadvantage, forcing the team to find a way to get back into the game.

For the Bulgarian national team, the absence of the captain is a significant blow that undoubtedly affects the organization of the game. This challenge adds another layer of difficulty to the already tough task of facing one of the strongest teams in the world. The match against Spain is the first serious test on the road to the World Cup, which is due in two years.

Despite the early deficit, we are yet to see how the Bulgarian team will respond to the challenge. Football experts, analyzing the upcoming clash, have already pointed out the strengths and weaknesses of both teams, but the reality on the field proved harsher for the Bulgarian footballers. The match continues, and Bulgarian fans are hoping for a turnaround.

Team Rosters

Here are the rosters for both teams for this key qualifying match:

Bulgaria:

• 21. Vutsov
• 14. Nedyalkov
• 5. Dimitrov
• 13. Tsenov
• 7. Nurnberger
• 18. Chochev
• 15. Panayotov
• 4. Gruev
• 12. Minkov
• 10. Kirilov
• 9. Kolev

Spain:

• 23. Simon
• 22. Cucurella
• 5. Hojsen
• 3. Le Normand
• 12. Pedro Porro
• 20. Pedri
• 6. Merino
• 18. Zubimendi
• 17. Williams
• 19. Yamal
• 21. Oyarzabal