From disappointment in Qatar to the joy of Euro 2024
How Spain arrives at the 2026 World Cup
Possible clashes in the knockout phase
Spain approaches the 2026 World Cup as European champion, with a demanding but manageable group placed in Group H alongside Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, a lineup with a historic rival, a new Asian power, and a debutant full of enthusiasm. Spain starts as the seeded team and reference of the group, but knows from many years of experience and many setbacks that any slip-up can complicate qualification to the knockout rounds which, additionally, this year feature the round of 16 as a new hazard.
The debut will be against Cape Verde on June 15 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (United States), at 18:00 Spain time, in an enclosed venue that will prevent delays caused by summer storms that usually hit the country. The second match, also in Atlanta and at the same time (June 21), will be against Saudi Arabia, while the group stage will conclude on June 27 against Uruguay at the Guadalajara Stadium (Mexico), in the early hours for Spanish fans (02:00 am).
Pedri, FC Barcelona and Spanish national team player – REUTERS/ ELOISA SÁNCHEZ
From disappointment in Qatar to the joy of Euro 2024
Spain arrives at the North American event with the wound of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, where it was eliminated in the round of 16 by Morocco on penalties after a 0-0 that exposed scoring problems and led to the departure of Luis Enrique as head coach. That match, in which La Roja completed nearly a thousand passes without finding the net, became a symbol of a model that needed adjustments to compete again for major titles.
The response came at the Euro 2024, held in Germany, where Spain was crowned champion after defeating England 2-1 in the Berlin final. That title, the fourth European Championship in the history of the national team, made La Roja the country with the most Euros and solidified the project of Luis de la Fuente, who had already lifted the Nations League with the same core of players well known from his time in the Federation’s youth categories.
Spanish coach Luis Enrique comforts Aymeric Laporte after the round of 16 World Cup match between Morocco and Spain, held at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan (Qatar) on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 – AP/ JULIO CORTEZ
The De la Fuente project
Luis de la Fuente has established a recognizable core that partly includes the generation that shone in youth categories, with players who have matured since Qatar. The coach has maintained the focus on ball possession and passing play but has introduced more verticality, more one-on-one on the wings with Williams and Lamine Yamal, and a less boring use of possession.
Spain arrives in 2026 as a team that can dominate opponents like Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia through possession, but also compete head-to-head against an intense Uruguay, accustomed to major stages and led by a coach like Marcelo Bielsa who proposes very high-paced matches. The challenge for La Roja will be to sustain the freshness shown at Euro 2024 in a longer tournament, with more travel and highly demanding knockout clashes starting from the round of 16.
Players to watch
In midfield, Pedri remains one of the main creative references after already being important at Qatar 2022, now with more experience and leadership following the Euro success.
On the wings, the emergence of Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal, protagonists in Germany 2024, has given La Roja the breakthrough and imbalance that were missing in the previous World Cup. They are joined by profiles like Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, or Baena who bring experience, key passes, and goals to a team that once again does not rely on a single striker to make a difference.
Spanish player Nico Williams with his national team teammates – REUTERS/ MIGUEL VIDAL
How Spain arrives at the 2026 World Cup
Spain’s path to the World Cup was drawn in a European qualifying group alongside Turkey, Georgia, and Bulgaria, where De la Fuente’s team was clearly superior in uncomfortable matches with long travels amid league and Champions League fixtures. Qualification marks Spain’s 17th World Cup participation, making it a historic team with the requirement to reach far into the tournament.
Moreover, Spain arrives as second in the FIFA world ranking behind Germany, a rating that positions it as a candidate to contend for the title. That status adds pressure after the current generation demonstrated in Germany it can win matches against powers like Germany, France, or England.
Possible clashes in the knockout phase
The new format of the 2026 World Cup introduces a round of 16, with cross-group clashes emphasizing the importance of finishing first. Spain’s Group H crosses with Group J, composed of Argentina, Algeria, Australia, and Jordan, setting a scenario with maximum demand if La Roja fails to meet expectations and finishes second while Argentina wins the group.
If Spain finishes first in the group, it will face the second from Group J in Los Angeles, thus presumably avoiding the reigning world champion Argentina and facing a tough but manageable match en route to the round of 16. If it finishes second, the scenario becomes more complicated as the match would be against the Group J champion, likely Argentina, a duel almost like a final in the early stages of the tournament.
Argentine Lionel Messi greets fans during warm-up before the Argentina vs Venezuela national team match – REUTERS/ AGUSTIN MARACRIAN
A major uncertainty is whether Spanish fans will choose to attend matches at the North American or Mexican venues. Ticket prices can exceed 500 euros per person, with figures for the Uruguay match approaching 1,000 euros. It is possible that the Spanish community in the United States will mobilize to support La Roja, but it seems unlikely that many will travel from Spain despite direct flights to Atlanta.
With the unconditional support of King Felipe VI, who is sure to be seen at several matches, Luis De la Fuente’s team is one of the major contenders for the title and has a clear reason to do so: how well they play football.