Spain at the World Cup 2026: Squad, fixtures, group and history

European champions Spain completed an international double with victory at FIFA World Cup 2026. Luis de la Fuente's side, led by captain Rodri, topped Group H after drawing with Cabo Verde and beating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. They then steered a course past Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France before defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final.

Below you will find everything you need to know about Spain at the 2026 World Cup: their fixtures, squad, qualifying record, key players, coach and tournament history.

Spain at the World Cup 2026: At a glance

Coach: Luis de la Fuente
Captain: Rodri
World Cup appearances: 17
Best finish: Winners (2010, 2026)

Spain's World Cup matches

Group H: Winners

15 June: Spain 0-0 Cabo Verde (Atlanta)
21 June: Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia (Atlanta)
27 June: Uruguay 0-1 Spain (Guadalajara)

Knockout stage

2 July – round of 32: Spain 3-0 Austria (Los Angeles)
6 July – round of 16: Portugal 0-1 Spain (Dallas)
10 July – quarter-finals: Spain 2-1 Belgium (Los Angeles)
14 July – semi-finals: France 0-2 Spain (Dallas)
19 July – final: Spain 1-0 Argentina, aet (New York)

Spain's World Cup squad

A star-studded list of 26 players was announced by coach Luis de la Fuente, with Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal included for his first World Cup. Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League-winning midfielder Fabián Ruiz was also named, as well as a trio of Arsenal players in David Raya, Martín Zubimendi and Mikel Merino.

How Spain qualified for the World Cup

First place in Group E: W5 D1 L0 F21 A2

Bulgaria 0-3 Spain
Türkiye 0-6 Spain
Spain 2-0 Georgia
Spain 4-0 Bulgaria
Georgia 0-4 Spain
Spain 2-2 Türkiye

Top scorer: Mikel Merino, Mikel Oyarzabal (6)

Spain coach: Luis de la Fuente

De la Fuente has enjoyed remarkable success since taking over as coach in December 2022, leading La Roja to 2023 UEFA Nations League and UEFA EURO 2024 success – and now adding the 2026 World Cup to his list of honours. A calm, considered presence on the touchline, De la Fuente is a highly popular figure among his squad, many of whom he first coached in the youth system.

Spain captain: Rodri

Ballon d'Or winner in 2024 and a key cog in the Spain side that triumphed at EURO 2024, Rodri is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential defensive midfielders of all time. A four-time Premier League winner with Manchester City, Rodri first captained Spain in 2023 and has now skippered his country to World Cup success, picking up the Golden Ball for best player in the process.

Spain's World Cup history 

Most appearances: Sergio Busquets, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos (17)
Top scorer: David Villa (9)
Best performance: Winners (2010, 2026)
World Cup 2022: Round of 16

Prior to 2010, Spain had failed to crack the code at the World Cup, with one fourth-place finish in 1950 and four quarter-final appearances their best showings. That all changed in South Africa in 2010 as Vicente del Bosque's possession-based 'tiki-taka' style, anchored by midfield maestros Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, led them to long-awaited glory. After the disappointment of a group stage exit and two round of 16 defeats in the subsequent editions, La Roja reclaimed the title this time around.

Spain's UEFA Nations League fixtures: Group A3

26 September: England vs Spain (20:45)
29 September: Spain vs Croatia (20:45)
3 October: Spain vs Czechia (20:45)
6 October: Croatia vs Spain (20:45)
12 November: Czechia vs Spain (20:45)
15 November: Spain vs England (20:45)

All times CET.