Reigning European champions arrive in North America with a generational squad and unfinished business on the world stage.
Spain won Euro 2024 in Germany, reasserting themselves as European football's dominant force just in time for the World Cup cycle. Luis de la Fuente's side plays a more vertical, direct version of the Spanish possession tradition tiki-taka reinterpreted for an age of high pressing. Teenage wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are tournament football's most exciting attacking pair; Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, controls the midfield.
Spain emerged from the group stage unbeaten, showing resilience in a tough opening round. They put on a commanding display against Austria in the Round of 32, found a way past Portugal in the Round of 16, held off Belgium in the Quarter-finals, overcame France in the Semi-finals, and found a way past Argentina in the Final. In the final, they saw off Argentina to claim the title and etch their names into World Cup history.
7won1drawn
14scored1conceded
Unbeaten throughout kept 7 clean sheets.
The standout performer for Spain at the 2026 World Cup.
vs Saudi Arabia
group stage
3 scored before half-time 3 goals in 14 minutes.
Mikel Oyarzabal led Spain's attack with 5 goals 2 in the group stage, 2 in the round of 32 and 1 in the semi-finals at the 2026 World Cup.
De la Fuente was promoted from Spain's youth setup in 2022 after leading underage sides to multiple European titles. His knowledge of a generation he had personally coached from U-19 upward gave the 2024 senior team an unusual tactical cohesion. Euro 2024 was his first major tournament; he won it. Unbeaten under Fuente leading Spain at his first World Cup.
De la Fuente's answer to a sprawling tournament was to shorten it. Spain kept the ball not to decorate matches but to deny them one goal conceded in eight games, and a final in which the opposition never shot. Tiki-taka rebuilt as a defensive system.
