European champion Spain was held to a 1-1 draw by Iraq in a FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-up in A Coruna on Thursday, with manager Luis de la Fuente resting several key players before its final friendly against Peru in Puebla, Mexico, on Monday.
De la Fuente left out Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, David Raya, Victor Munoz, Marc Cucurella, Pedri, Fabian Ruiz, Martin Zubimendi, Rodri and Mikel Oyarzabal because of fitness concerns, leaving Spain with a heavily rotated starting line-up.
The result was a subdued send-off for Spain on home soil before it travels to North America on Friday. It will begin its World Cup campaign in Group H against Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
Spain struggled to break down an organised Iraq side whose compact low block denied the host the rhythm that carried it to the 2024 European Championship title in Germany.
The host took the lead in the 16th minute in a quick counter attack, with Ferran Torres bursting through the middle from midfield into the box before firing past the goalkeeper.
Iraq equalised through Merchas Doski in the 27th minute with a superb left-footed strike from a difficult angle on the left edge of the box, the ball arcing over Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who was slightly off his line, and dropping into the net.
Torres struck the crossbar in the 40th minute, but Spain found clear openings hard to come by against a disciplined opponent which will play only its second World Cup in Group I with France, Senegal and Norway.
Spain vs Iraq player ratings:
Spain: Joan Garcia (6.0/10), Pedro Porro (6.9/10), Jon Martín (6.2/10), Aymeric Laporte (7.4/10), Alejandro Grimaldo (6.5/10), Marc Bernal (6.4/10), Gavi (6.7/10), Dani Olmo (7.5/10), Álex Baena (7.1/10), Ferran Torres (8.0/10), Borja Iglesias (6.6/10)
Subs: Gonzalo García (6.1/10), Sergio Gómez (6.5/10), Jesús Rodríguez (6.3/10), Eric García (6.2/10), Yéremy Pino (6.0/10), Beñat Turrientes (6.1/10), Javi Guerra (6.0/10), Marc Pubill (6.2/10), Mikel Merino (6.8/10), Leo Román (6.0/10), Javi Rodríguez (6.1/10)
Iraq: Ahmed Basil (6.3/10), Hussein Ali (6.8/10), Akam Hashim (7.0/10), Zid Tahseen (6.2/10), Merchas Doski (8.4/10), Zaid Ismael (6.5/10), Amir Al-Ammari (6.9/10), Ibrahim Bayesh (6.6/10), Marko Farji (6.1/10), Ali Jasim (6.8/10), Ali Al-Hamadi (6.4/10)
Subs: Jalal Hassan (6.9/10), Aymen Hussein (6.3/10), Ahmed Al-Hajjaj (6.1/10), Rebin Sulaka (5.8/10), Zidane Iqbal (6.5/10), Kevin Yakob (6.2/10), Manaf Younis (6.1/10), Ahmed Qasem (6.0/10), Frans Putros (6.1/10), Youssef Amyn (6.2/10), Mustafa Saadoon (6.0/10)
Published on Jun 05, 2026