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From a disappointing elimination in Qatar to triumph at Euro 2024, Luis de la Fuente's team enters the 2026 World Cup as one of the main favorites...
Spain won Euro 2024 with an impressive performance and are considered one of the main contenders to triumph in the 2026 World Cup. However, the team also has a historical challenge to overcome: since the 2010 world title, the Spaniards have not managed to get past the first knockout stage of any World Cup. Now coach Luis de la Fuente is aiming to end that negative streak.
How was Spain at the 2022 World Cup?
Today it seems strange to remember that Luis Enrique, currently coach of Paris Saint-Germain, was harshly criticized by the Spanish media for the great trust he gave to Sergio Busquets, at the end of his career, as well as to the youngsters Gavi and Pedri.
It all started promisingly. Spain dominated the qualifiers, winning all six matches, with Ferran Torres the top scorer with four goals.
In their first match of the World Cup, Spain crushed Costa Rica 7-0. Ferran Torres scored twice. During that period, Rodri was used as a centre-back to make room for Busquets in midfield, while Aymeric Laporte was his defensive partner.
Then the problems began. First came a draw with Germany, a result that satisfied neither team. In the next match, Japan defeated Spain despite having possession of the ball only 17.7 percent of the time. The Japanese registered three shots on goal, while Spain only five.
Luis Enrique was criticised for the lack of a central striker and for an overly cautious approach. The same pattern was repeated against Morocco in the round of 16. Spain controlled 75.6 per cent of possession but created very few dangerous chances.
The team was eliminated after a penalty shootout, without scoring a single goal. It was the first time a team had failed to score a single penalty in a World Cup since the Ukraine–Switzerland match.
The statistics illustrate Spain's problem. Laporte completed 224 passes and Rodri 185, more than the entire Moroccan team combined, who recorded 304 passes. However, most of them took place in the middle of the pitch and not in the crucial spaces.
Despite dominating possession, Spain only had 39 touches of the ball in the opposing area, while Morocco recorded 17. In the end, the Moroccans, led by Yassine Bounou and Achraf Hakimi, secured qualification.
Transformation under the leadership of Luis de la Fuente
The appointment of Luis de la Fuente brought about a complete change. The coach had worked for years with the youth national teams and knew the new generation of Spanish footballers well.
Under his guidance, players such as Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, Daniel Vivian and Mikel Oyarzabal took on important roles in the national team. De la Fuente also opened the door very early to the extraordinary talent Lamine Yamal.
Before Euro 2024, Spain were not considered the main favourites and Rodri was seen as the only undisputed star. However, the coach built a more aggressive, more vertical and more dangerous team in attack.
Even Pedro's injury during the European Championship did not weaken the team, thanks to the great depth of the midfield, where Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo, Rodri, Zubimendi and Merino stood out.
Oyarzabal became a key figure in the team. He scored the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 final and helped solve the long-standing problem in the center forward position. Meanwhile, Alvaro Morata continued to play an important role as a leader and tactical reference, despite not scoring many goals.
Lamine Yamal finished the tournament as the top assister, while his goal against France became one of the most memorable moments of the championship.
From March 2023 to June 2025, Spain did not lose a single official match. Only Portugal managed to beat them in the Nations League final. The team then secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, beating Turkey in the group.
What Spain brings to the 2026 World Cup
Compared to Euro 2024, the changes are not major, but some players have gained greater weight in the team.
In goal, Luis de la Fuente faces a pleasant dilemma between David Raya and Joan Garcia, who have had very good seasons. However, Unai Simon remains the coach's preferred choice.
On the right wing of defense, after Cesar Azpilicueta in Qatar and Dani Carvajal in Euro 2024, Pedro Porro is expected to be a starter in the 2026 World Cup.
Mikel Merino and Mikel Oyarzabal remain among the team's most important players. Merino scored six goals during the qualifiers, while Oyarzabal was the most productive player with six goals and four assists.
However, Merino has just returned from injury, while Oyarzabal is enjoying arguably the best form of his career. In his last ten matches for the national team, he has registered 11 goals and four assists.
Young talent Pau Cubarsi is expected to play in the centre of defence. His partner is still open to discussion, but De la Fuente continues to trust Aymeric Laporte, despite a less than stellar season at club level.
In attack, the right wing will belong to Lamine Yamali, while on the left, competition is expected between Nico Williams and Alex Baena.
Spain will start the tournament against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, two matches that could give the team the time it needs to find the optimal rhythm before the decisive stages of the World Cup. /Adapted from Tribuna /
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