Spain World Cup draw 2026: Group results, schedule, roster, coach and more to know

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As the 2026 FIFA World Cup nears, few teams are under as much pressure as Spain.

Spain has delivered for fans in recent years, winning the Nations League in 2023 before capturing the Euro 2024 title, but the biggest championship of them all is still the real prize for Luis de la Fuente’s team.

Despite success elsewhere, Spain has had a hard time advancing deep in the World Cup since its 2010 title. Spain missed the knockout stage altogether in 2014 and was eliminated in the Round of 16 in each of the last two tournaments.

Now ranked No. 1 in the world, advancing past the Round of 16 may just be viewed as the bare minimum for Spain’s talented squad.

Here’s a complete guide to Spain’s World Cup draw, including its roster and schedule.

MORE: A full overview of the 2026 FIFA World Cup match schedule, bracket, and group layouts

Spain’s group will be determined by Friday’s World Cup draw. Spain is one of 12 teams included in Pot 1 of the draw.

Group match schedule

MORE: How does the 2026 World Cup draw work?

Spain has participated in every World Cup since 1982 and has won their group in four of their last six appearances.

While Spain has only reached the semifinals twice in their World Cup history, it took full advantage of their most recent opportunity by becoming champions in 2010. 

MORE: Which teams are in the World Cup Draw?

Spain entered the World Cup draw ranked No. 1 in the world, comfortably putting them in Pot 1 even with three hosts all in Pot 1 as well.

Spain won their first World Cup in 2010, but they they haven’t advanced past the Round of 16 in any World Cup since. In 2022, Spain was eliminated by Morocco on penalties after finishing second in Group E. 

• Current FIFA World Ranking: No. 1 (November 2025)
• World Cup titles: 1 (2010)
• World Cup appearances (last): 15 (Qatar 2022)
• How Spain qualified: UEFA Group E winners
• World Cup record:
  • Games: 67 GP (31 W, 17 D, 19 L)
  • Goal differential: +33 (108 GS, 75 GA)

Spain World Cup 2026 preview

As the odds-on favorite at the time of the World Cup Draw, Spain is under heavy pressure to win big in 2026.

Spain’s lack of World Cup success since its 2010 title only adds to the pressure the team is facing. Spain was eliminated before the knockout stage in 2014 and didn’t make it past the Round of 16 in 2018 or 2022, so even just reaching the quarterfinals would be the club’s best World Cup finish since 2010. 

The tournament also marks the World Cup debut of Lamine Yamal, Spain’s 18-year-old phenom who would turn 19 the same week as the semifinal matches in 2026.

• Star Players: Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres

Who is Spain head coach?

Spain made a managerial change after being eliminated by Morocco at the 2022 World Cup, moving on from Luis Enrique and promoting Luis de la Fuente to the top job.

De la Fuente had a 16-year professional career as a player, making 146 appearances with Athletic Bilbao before spending four years with Sevilla. He also appeared on Spain’s U18 and U21 team. 

A manager since 1997, de la Fuente had two different stints as Bilbao Athletic’s manager before stints as the manager of Spain’s U19, U21 and U23 teams. After nearly a decade working with Spain’s youth teams, de la Fuente became Spain’s national team head coach and won both the 2023 Nations League and Euro 2024 titles.

• Manager (Nationality): Luis de la Fuente (Spanish)
• Date hired: Dec. 8, 2022
• Record as national team manager (W-D-L): 29-2-7
  *As of the conclusion of November, 2025 matches
• Major titles since hire: 2 (UEFA Euro 2024, UEFA Nations League 2023)
• Notable victories:
  • Spain 2-1 England (July 14, 2024 — UEFA Euro Final)
  • Spain 2-1 France (July 9, 2024 — IUEFA Euro Semifinal)

Lamine Yamal is the face of Spain’s national team even at just 18 years old, but his availability during World Cup qualifying was touch-and-go due to injuries.

Spain was led instead by Mikel Merino and Mikel Oyarzabal, who each scored six goals, while Ferran Torres scored twice. Torres and Oyarzabal each have more than 50 appearances in national team games, while goalkeeper Unai Simon has the most appearances with the Spanish national team of any active player at 56. 

Spain predicted starting XI (formation: 4-3-3)

Simon (GK)

Llorente, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella

Merino, Garcia, Ruiz

Oyarbazal, Torres, Yamal

Strengths: 

• Midfield depth: Spain is loaded with midfielder options for the World Cup, to the point that tough roster cuts will have to be made. In what should be hot, humid conditions in North America, de la Puente won’t have any shortage of talented options to set up his forwards.

• Championship experience: Spain hasn’t advanced past the Round of 16 in the World Cup since 2010, but this team has championship-level experience after winning the Nations League in 2023 and Euro 2024. While not quite at the level of a World Cup, those tournaments included pressure-packed games against elite teams with massive audiences watching. That should set the stage for Spain to be prepared for anything in the World Cup.

Weaknesses: 

• Lamine Yamal’s health: Spain lacks many true weaknesses, but the health of Yamal is a major storyline to monitor. Yamal has been dealing with a persistent groin injury, and his treatment has caused a divide between Barcelona and the national team. Controversy aside, Yamal’s injury could prevent him from preparing as adequately as he hopes for his first World Cup and force Spain to adjust. 

Spain roster for 2026 World Cup

Below is a projected 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup. This will be updated when the squad is officially announced by Spain closer to the start of the tournament.

*Caps correct as of Nov. 18, 2025.

Spain World Cup qualifying results

Spain qualified for the FIFA World Cup by winning UEFA Group E with 16 points, solidifying their place in the tournament with a 2-2 draw against Turkey on the final day of match play. 

Spain won the World Cup for the first time in their history in 2010, with their previous best finish coming in 1950, when they were fourth.

• World Cups appearances: 15
• Best finish: Winners (2010)
• All-time goals scored: 108
• All-time goals conceded: 75
• All-time record (W-L-D): 31-19-17

*Host