🇪🇸 Spain at the World Cup 2026

Road to the final

Spain beat Austria 3–0 in the Round of 32, edged Portugal 1–0 in the Round of 16, beat Belgium 2–1 in the quarter-finals, then beat France 2–0 in the first semi-final to reach the final.

The knockout branch began with Spain vs Austria. Latest match recap: Spain 2–0 France (Semi-final, Match 101).

Up next: the World Cup 2026 final — Sunday, July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium, against Argentina, 2–1 winners over England in the second semi-final. See the final fixture page.

Group results and standing

Spain finished group winner in Group H with 7 points and a +5 goal difference.

Knockout results

Coach & captain

Head coach: Luis de la Fuente. The manager who delivered the UEFA Euro 2024 title arrived at this World Cup having proven he can win tournaments with this generation of players. His high-energy, positional approach suits a squad with extraordinary midfield quality. Captain: {{CAPTAIN_NAME}} — leading a team that many believe has the system and personnel to add a second World Cup title to the Euro 2024 triumph.

How they qualified

Spain qualified through UEFA European qualifying, winning their group with {{QUALIFICATION_RECORD}}. The campaign came off the back of the Euro 2024 victory and saw Spain maintain the same playing identity and personnel, giving the squad tournament experience and cohesion heading into 2026.

Group stage summary

Spain won Group H with seven points and a +5 goal difference — a composed, controlled group stage performance that reflected the maturity of their system. They won two and drew one, but the level of dominance in their best performances pointed to a team that is comfortable holding something back for the knockout rounds. Lamine Yamal and Pedri were consistently excellent; the midfield structure was as reliable as any in the competition.

Key players

• Lamine Yamal (winger) — the teenager who lit up Euro 2024 has continued to develop into one of the most exciting players in the competition. Direct, creative, and dangerous from both feet, he is the most difficult player in Spain's attack to contain.
• Pedri (midfielder) — the creative hub of Spain's possession game. His technical quality, vision, and ability to find space in tight areas make him the most important player in Spain's build-up phase.
• Rodri (midfielder) — defensive midfield anchor whose positioning, passing, and reading of the game anchor Spain's entire structure. When Rodri is in control, Spain are rarely troubled.

Projected XI

4-3-3: {{GK}} | {{RB}} {{CB1}} {{CB2}} {{LB}} | Rodri Pedri {{CM3}} | Yamal {{CF}} {{LW}}

Spain's system is built on positional precision rather than individual flair — the formation is less important than the spatial relationships that their best players maintain in and out of possession.

World Cup history

Spain won the World Cup once — in 2010 in South Africa, completing a historic treble with their first European Championship title in 2008 and their first defence in 2012. They did not advance past the group stage in 2014 or 2018, but rebuilt with a younger generation and won Euro 2024. A World Cup title in 2026 would confirm this as one of Spanish football's most successful eras.

Bracket path

Spain's knockout route started against Austria at Los Angeles Stadium on July 2 and now runs through to the July 19 final after a 2–0 semi-final win over France. The full bracket is visible on the bracket visualiser.