[World Cup 2026] Spain National Team Latest News | EURO Champions on 31-Match Unbeaten Run · Players to Watch · Predicted Lineup · Friendly Results
Spain, EURO 2024 champions and holders of an all-time record 31-match unbeaten streak, lead Group H. Get the full picture on 'La Roja' — from their qualifying journey and friendly results to key players and predicted starting lineup.
EURO 2024 champions. 31 consecutive matches unbeaten. Spain arrive at WC 2026 as the 'greatest generation in their history.' Here is everything you need to know about La Roja — drawn into Group H alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay — covering their qualifying campaign, friendlies, players to watch, and predicted lineup.
info Key Information
- FIFA Ranking: 2nd
- Manager: Luis de la Fuente (appointed December 2022)
- Nickname: La Roja (The Red)
- Group: Group H (Cape Verde / Saudi Arabia / Uruguay)
- World Cup record: 16 appearances · 1 title (2010, South Africa)
local_fire_department Where the EURO Champions Stand — A Record-Breaking Unbeaten Run
Since their defeat to Scotland in the EURO qualifying campaign in March 2023, Spain have gone 31 consecutive competitive matches without a loss. That surpasses the 29-match run achieved under Vicente del Bosque (from the 2010 World Cup to the 2013 Confederations Cup final), making it the longest unbeaten streak in the history of the national team.
- EURO 2024 winners (beat England 2-1 in the final)
- UEFA Nations League winners
- WC European Qualifying Group E: 5 wins, 1 draw · 19 goals scored / the only dropped points came in the final matchday against Turkey
- Luis de la Fuente named FIFA Best Men's Coach for two consecutive years
- Including friendlies, Spain's unbeaten run stands at 33 matches at time of writing (including the March 2026 games against Serbia and Egypt)
The case for calling them the frontrunners for the title rests on the completeness of their generational transition and the extraordinary depth of quality in midfield and attack.
sports_soccer WC 2026 Qualifying Campaign (UEFA Group E)
Spain topped a six-team Group E with ease, scoring 19 goals and conceding very little in an almost perfect qualifying campaign.
- vs Georgia (H): 7-1 (Yamal scored)
- vs Cyprus (A): 3-0
- vs Georgia (A): 4-0 (November)
- vs Bulgaria (H): 4-0
- vs Cyprus (H): 6-0
- vs Turkey (A): 1-1 (final matchday · the toughest test of the campaign)
Result: 5 wins, 1 draw · 19 goals scored / qualified as Group E winners.
calendar_month Recent International Friendly Results (March 2026)
Spain 3-0 Serbia (27 March / Estadio de la Cerámica)
At Villarreal's home ground, Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice in the first half. The third goal was a debut international strike for Osasuna's Víctor Muñoz. The match was also symbolic as Rodri made his first start for the national team since suffering an injury in September 2024. Spain ran out comfortable winners in a 4-3-3 featuring Yamal, Pedri, and Cucurella.
Spain 0-0 Egypt (31 March / RCDE Stadium)
A friendly played at RCDE Stadium on the outskirts of Barcelona (home of Espanyol). Spain created numerous clear-cut chances but failed to convert, prompting de la Fuente to call for improvement in clinical finishing after the final whistle. The unbeaten run continued, but the match highlighted a concern — the ability to put chances away — that will be key to advancing from Group H.
star Key Players — Club Form in 2025-26
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / RW)
Just 18 years old, yet already the finest right winger in the world. His assist in the EURO 2024 final captivated the planet, and he has carried that form into the 2025-26 season, ranking among La Liga's top scorers for Barcelona. He returned to sharpness with the national team in March. He is the defining symbol of Spain's bid for back-to-back titles.
Nico Williams (Athletic Club / LW)
The left wing partner to Yamal. Consistently outstanding for Athletic Club, he dominates his flank with powerful physicality and pace. He was arguably the player of the tournament at EURO 2024, and remains a nightmare for any right-sided defender.
Pedri (Barcelona / MF)
The heartbeat of Spain's midfield. Under Hansi Flick at Barcelona in 2025-26, he has fully stepped into the starring role. For the national team, he is as indispensable as Rodri, dictating the tempo and managing the rhythm of matches.
Rodri (Manchester City / MF)
The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner. He suffered an ACL rupture in September 2024 and missed a long spell, but returned to the starting lineup for Spain against Serbia in March 2026. If he is fully fit, he is the best defensive midfielder in the world — and his presence significantly raises Spain's chances of winning the tournament.
Gavi (Barcelona / MF)
Alongside Pedri, the other half of 'Spain's midfield of the future.' Back from a lengthy injury absence, he has re-energised both club and country with his aggressive work rate and driving runs forward.
Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain / MF)
The left-footed interior midfielder who announced himself to the world at EURO 2024. A regular Champions League starter at PSG, he functions as the 'offensive trigger' in the third midfield slot.
Dani Olmo (Barcelona / MF · FW)
A versatile attacker with a sharp eye for goal. His understanding with Pedri and Yamal allows him to contribute across multiple positions — behind the striker, as an inside forward, or as a second striker.
Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad / FW)
The left-footed finisher who scored the winning goal in the EURO 2024 final. Two more goals against Serbia in March have pushed him to the front of the queue for the No. 9 role.
Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona / CB)
An extraordinary 18-year-old centre-back. His composure and technical quality on the ball have earned him recognition as the finest central defender of his generation.
Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid / CB)
The 21-year-old who joined Real Madrid from Bournemouth for £50M in the summer of 2025. Of Spanish and Dutch heritage, his strengths are his ability to play long passes and his dominance in the air.
Joan García (Barcelona / GK)
Moved from Espanyol to Barcelona in the summer of 2025. He missed the first half of the 2025-26 season with a meniscus injury but returned in November. After his first call-up to the national team in March, he has emerged as the leading candidate for the No. 1 jersey for the new generation.
favorite Feature: Yamal & Rodri — The Heart of Spain
Yamal — The 18-Year-Old Carrying the Weight of Back-to-Back Glory
His stunning long-range strike in the EURO 2024 semi-final against France wrote his name into history, as he became the youngest ever European champion. In the 2025-26 season he has hit double figures in both goals and assists for Barcelona, drawing inevitable comparisons with Messi. WC 2026 will be his first World Cup, at just 19 — the embodiment of a generation's coming of age. If Spain lift the trophy, the chances are extremely high that he will be named tournament MVP.
Rodri — The Ballon d'Or Winner's Return, and the Gold Standard in Midfield
The ACL rupture in September 2024 kept him on the sidelines for months. He returned to action for Manchester City in the second half of the 2025-26 season, though some believe he still needs time to reach full fitness. His starting appearance for Spain against Serbia in March was a huge relief for supporters, but how well he can rebuild his physical condition before the tournament begins in June could determine Spain's fate. If he is at his best, he provides absolute assurance at the base of the 4-3-3; if not, Zubimendi steps in as his replacement.
info De la Fuente's Tactics and Latest Developments
- Default formation — 4-3-3, with Rodri as the anchor and Pedri & Fabián Ruiz as the interior midfielders linking defence to attack.
- Wing speed — The Yamal (right) × Nico Williams (left) pairing is among the fastest in the world, giving Spain a level of wide attacking threat that few of the 48 nations in the tournament can match.
- High press + possession — A modern hybrid that inherits the tiki-taka tradition while adding greater pressing intensity to win the ball back quickly.
- Youth in key roles — Players like Yamal, Cubarsí, and Huijsen, all around 20 years old, are selected without hesitation, accelerating the generational transition.
- Concerns — Finding a reliable deputy for Rodri (Zubimendi / Mirkitchev) and settling on a definitive No. 9 (Oyarzabal / Ferran Torres / Morata).
info Injury News & Concerns
- Rodri — Recovering from an ACL rupture sustained in September 2024. He returned to the starting XI against Serbia in March, but his final sharpening before June will be critical.
- Gavi — Fitness has been improving since returning from a lengthy absence, but his ability to withstand the demands of successive matches needs to be confirmed before the tournament.
- Joan García — Fully recovered from meniscal surgery in the first half of 2025-26. Still has limited competitive experience at international level.
- Lack of cutting edge — Many clear chances were squandered against Egypt in March. The choice of No. 9 will have a significant bearing on how Spain fare in the early stages of the tournament.
menu_book Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3)
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Joan García | Barcelona |
| RSB | Dani Carvajal | Real Madrid |
| CB | Dean Huijsen | Real Madrid |
| CB | Pau Cubarsí | Barcelona |
| LSB | Marc Cucurella | Chelsea |
| MF | Rodri | Manchester City |
| MF | Pedri | Barcelona |
| MF | Fabián Ruiz | Paris Saint-Germain |
| RW | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona |
| CF | Mikel Oyarzabal | Real Sociedad |
| LW | Nico Williams | Athletic Club |
calendar_month Group H Schedule
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 6/16 | Spain vs Cape Verde | 01:00 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) |
| Mon 6/22 | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | 01:00 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) |
| Sat 6/27 | Uruguay vs Spain | 10:00 | Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico) |
The third match is the only Group H game played outside the United States. The clash with Uruguay in Guadalajara, Mexico, has every chance of being the deciding fixture for top spot in the group.
sports_soccer World Cup History
- 2010 South Africa — Champions (beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the final / Iniesta's winning goal)
- 2014 Brazil — Group stage elimination (failed to defend the title)
- 2018 Russia — Round of 16 exit (lost to Russia on penalties)
- 2022 Qatar — Round of 16 exit (lost to Morocco on penalties)
- 16 World Cup appearances in total, with 4 top-four finishes. Spain have been eliminated in the Round of 16 in each of the last two tournaments — breaking through that knockout stage barrier is the greatest challenge on the road to a second title.
Summary
EURO 2024 champions. An unbeaten run stretching beyond 30 games. A golden generation at their peak. Spain enter this tournament as the No. 1 favourites to lift the trophy. Group H is by no means straightforward, but if Yamal, Rodri, and Pedri are all firing, progression should be well within their grasp. The real test will come in the knockout rounds, where they are likely to face heavyweights such as France, Brazil, and Argentina — and the question will be whether they can finally end the hoodoo of back-to-back Round of 16 exits. Spain won't face Japan directly, but when talking about who will define WC 2026, this is one team you simply cannot leave out.
Sources: ESPN / FourFourTwo / Goal.com open_in_new / RFEF / UEFA.com open_in_new / FIFA.com open_in_new
Last updated: 2026-04-29