Spain will once again be competing in the World Cup, but this time they will be doing more than just qualifying. They arrive as one of the most complete and dangerous national teams on the planet.
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With Tuesday’s draw with Turkey in Seville, La Roja officially qualified for their 13th consecutive World Cup, extending their winning streak for the first time since Argentina in 1978.
Nearly 50 years later, Spain is still a fixture on soccer’s biggest stage, a nation with legitimate ambitions to lift the trophy on North American soil in 2026. And they did it with a perfect route to the international tournament.
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Spain’s qualifying campaign was underwhelming
Spain finished undefeated with five wins and one draw, scoring 21 goals and conceding only two. Germany is the only European team to qualify for the World Cup 19 times in a row. Globally, only Brazil, the only country to have played in all 22 tournaments, has a better record.
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Spain will be participating in the World Cup for the 23rd time next summer, when the number of participating teams has been expanded to 48, to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. And they come into the tournament with all the signs of true title contenders.
Spain unveiled a crisp new kit on Tuesday night – the same one they will wear at the 2026 World Cup – and stylishly named it. Just a few minutes into the game, Marc Cucurella played a perfect ball into the box, which Dani Olmo buried, becoming the first player for Spain’s new team to score.
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Turkey equalized late in the first half and surprised Spain by taking a 2-1 lead early after the break, but La Roja’s quality ultimately took over. Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain’s most reliable scorer under coach Luis de la Fuente, pounced on the rebound to tie the game with his 16th goal of his time with de la Fuente.
Spain looked for the winning goal in the second half, with Fermin López slotting the ball into the net in the final moments, but the goal was ruled offside by VAR. Still, the 1-1 draw was enough to finish the season unbeaten and secure top spot in the group.
Why Spain are favorites to win the World Cup
This Spanish national team is built like a champion. And for the first time in years, it feels like all the pieces are clicking together. Unai Simon continues to prove that he is an elite goalkeeper and one of Europe’s best shot-stoppers, stabilizing Spain in pressure situations.
Disciplined and athletic defence: Featuring up-and-coming talents like Pau Kvarsi and star players like Dani Carvajal and Aymeric Laporte, Spain’s backline is deep, flexible and difficult to break down. A midfield built for total football: Arguably the best midfielder in the world, Rodri leads a unit loaded with intelligence, control and technique. Once Spain dominates possession, it is almost impossible to break them.
A forward who can make a big difference in the game: this is where Spain’s new swagger comes from. Lamine Yamal, already a brilliant teenage prodigy at FC Barcelona, Nico Williams Jr. is an explosive winger who can outmaneuver any defender, providing depth, goals and versatility. Spain no longer relies solely on complex build-up play. They have speed, chaos and creativity on the wing that defenses can’t match.
