Europe conquered, rest of the world is next — Spain officially on WC

The chances that Spain could lose their direct World Cup qualification in a head-to-head clash with Turkey were practically zero.

For that to happen, a national team that had never in its history lost a World Cup qualifier at home would have needed to be beaten by at least seven goals — an outcome that would have produced arguably the biggest shock in the history of qualifying for major football tournaments. On top of that, the visitors arrived at La Cartuja with eight changes to their lineup compared to their previous match against Bulgaria. Vincenzo Montella was thinking exclusively about the playoffs, protecting his key players from bookings and any other unforeseen complications...

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But theory alone did not allow the Red Fury players to formally call themselves participants of the 2026 World Cup until referee Felix Zwayer blew the final whistle of tonight’s duel in Seville — a match in which history very nearly unfolded!

The Turks stood up to the favourites, came from behind, even took the lead — albeit only for seven minutes — but genuinely threatened to end Spain’s eternal undefeated run in World Cup qualifiers. In the end, they earned a 2–2 draw, will still have to go through the March playoffs, but they hugely boosted their own confidence in their attempt to reach the global stage for the first time since 2002, when — lest we forget — they finished third in the world.

We won’t wait long for the first global bookmaker predictions about their chances next summer, but any ranking that doesn’t list Spain as the top favourite for the title would defy common sense. True, they “spoiled” their perfect qualifiers — not only with this draw, but also by conceding their first (and second) goals, losing the chance to finish with a clean defensive record like England did — but they also tied the world record set by Italy between 2019 and 2021 with 31 consecutive competitive matches without defeat.

They are coming to the U.S., Canada and Mexico hoping to stand alone as owners of that historic achievement — arriving as reigning European champions, Nations League winners, and, if you like, as current Olympic champions — ready to spread fear and become champions of everything!

Everything began exactly as expected — it took the hosts only 220 seconds to score. Cucurella burst down the left side and sent a low cross that Dani Olmo met perfectly. A bit later he threatened the goalkeeper Bayindir twice more with long-range attempts.

Around the midway point of the first half, ball possession stood at 81% to 19% for Spain, but it still wasn’t close to the dominance they showed against the same opponent just over two months ago, when they humiliated Turkey 6–0 away. The Turks defended compactly in a low block in a 5-4-1 shape, patiently waiting for their chance — and they got it from a set piece late in the first half, when Deniz Gul reacted best after a corner.

Then came a tsunami after the break. Spain didn’t know what hit them — Turkey attacked without hesitation. Yilmaz looked as if he had watched McTominay’s goal against Denmark during halftime and tried to copy it with a bicycle kick, but Simon denied him. Spain’s goal was hanging in the air, and the European champions finally collapsed in the 55th minute after an unstoppable low strike from distance by Salih Ozcan. Kokcu chested the ball down for him, it skidded away from Simon and ended up in the side netting.

Spanish media recently invented the term “Oyarhaland,” paying tribute to the Real Sociedad forward who had produced an unreal seven goals and eight assists in his previous ten national-team appearances!

It looked like Mikel Oyarzabal would end his streak of eight consecutive matches in which he contributed a goal — either scoring or assisting — and Samu Omorodion was already waiting at the sideline to replace him. But the brilliant forward managed to equalize for 2–2 and enter the history of his national team in an era in which many experts had argued that the only thing De la Fuente’s squad lacked was a true, elite striker!

There were chances on both sides until the end — Fermin Lopez even pushed the ball into the net in the sixth minute of stoppage time, though it turned out to be offside — but it would have been unfair for either side to lose tonight.

Spain also unveiled their new kit, which they will wear at the World Cup and in qualifiers for the next European Championship, though they expected to present it in front of a much larger crowd. The half-empty stands at La Cartuja were painful to look at.

When the group-stage schedule was released, the Spanish federation assumed that the final match might be decisive for World Cup qualification and chose to host Turkey at the home of Real Betis — the eighth of the last 28 home matches that Spain have played in the Andalusian capital. After all, it was there that they sealed their ticket to Qatar four years ago. But in the end, the rain was likely the reason that fewer than 30,000 people showed up to witness the Red Fury’s qualification for the World Cup.

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - EUROPE

Tuesday

Austria - BiH 1-1 (0-1)

/Gregoritsch 77 - Tabakovic 12/

Belarus - Greece 0-0

Belgium - Lichtenstein 7-0 (3-0)

/Vanaken 1, Doku 34,41, Mechele 52, Saelemaekers 55, De Ketelaere 57,59/

Bulgaria - Georgia 2-1 (2-0)

/Rusev 10, Krastev 24 - Lochoshvili 88/

Kosovo* - Switzerland 1-1 (0-0)

/Muslija 74 - Vargas 47/

Romania - San Marino 7-1 (3-1)

/Rossi 13 og, Baiaram 29, Man 42, Valentini 57 og, Hagi 76, Munteanu 86 pen - Giacopetti 2/

Scotland - Denmark 4-2 (1-0)

/McTominay 3, Shankland 78, Tierney 90+3, McLean 90+8 - Hojlund 57 pen, Dorgu 82/

Spain - Turkey 2-2 (1-1)

/Olmo 4, Oyarzabal 62 - Gul 42, Ozcan 54/

Sweden - Slovenia 1-1 (0-0)

/Lundgren 87 - Elsnik 64/

Wales - North Macedonia 7-1 (3-1)

/Wilson 18 pen, 75, 81 pen, Brooks 21, Johnson 37, James 57, Broadhead 87 - Miokovski 23/