As the current European champions, Spain is one of the teams to watch for the 2026 World Cup. There are good arguments for “Furia Roja” winning the title.
Nations League winner 2023, European champion 2024, second in the Nations League 2025, second in the FIFA world rankings as well as a confident World Cup qualification with 16 points from six games and 21:2 goals: You can’t really be more favorite than Spain at the 2026 World Cup.
“La Selection” is therefore mentioned by many experts when it comes to which team will lift the World Cup trophy into the sky on July 19th in New York / New Jersey. The bookmakers also see Spain and France ahead. Ahead of England, Brazil, Argentina or – by a significant margin – the DFB team.
Luis de la Fuente: “Want to achieve something significant”
Being the favorite is not a problem for Spain – on the contrary. Players and coaches are happy to accept it, after all, their chests have become bigger after the successes of the past few years. “We are very happy that this is the case”said national coach Luis de la Fuente. “This actually helps us to approach this World Cup with the enthusiasm and achieve something important.”
There are good reasons why Spain can repeat the double of European Championship and World Cup titles. The southern Europeans already achieved this in 2008 (European Championship) and 2010 (World Cup).
First: De la Fuente formed one Success machine
Success came back with Coach de la Fuente “Furia Roja”. The 64-year-old took over the Spaniards from Luis Enrique in January 2023 after the unsuccessful 2022 World Cup (round of 16 exit against Morocco). He rebuilt the team, rebuilt it and implemented a new style of play. The team continues to be extremely confident on the ball and strong in passing, but they are able to finish quicker.
Luis de la Fuente in the game against Iraq.
More verticality, a little less possession of the ball – de la Fuente’s system could be broken down into this somewhat condensed formula. Success proves him right – the coach shaped Spain into a real success machine. Of the 42 international matches under de la Fuente, the southern Europeans only lost two games. His team has been unbeaten for more than two years and delights spectators with their technically elegant style of play.
Second: The youngsters have long been top players
Lamine Yamal, of course. Since the 2024 European Championships at the latest, everyone has known the FC Barcelona winger, who is still only 18 years old. A “generational talent” who played an important role in the Spanish national team at the age of 16 and has further matured into an absolute top star over the past two years. “He has a God-given ability. He plays with a maturity that you normally only see in 24 or 25 year olds.”Coach de la Fuente also enthuses.
The whole of Spain was worried about Yamal’s fitness to play at the World Cup after a thigh injury; most recently there was a green light for the youngster, who will turn 19 on July 13th.
Lamine Yamal in training with the Spanish national team.
In the Spanish opening game against the Cape Verde Islands on Monday (6 p.m., live on ARD as well as in the live stream and audio stream on sportschau.de), coach de la Fuente is likely to rest Yamal, but he will certainly need the winger later in the tournament.
But Yamal is not the only highly gifted player in the Spanish squad. Gavi was once considered similarly talented, but serious injuries, including a torn cruciate ligament, slowed down the midfielder, who was also only 21 years old. Since November 2023, Gavi has only made one international appearance. The FC Barcelona professional could be something like the Spanish “surprise trump card” at the 2026 World Cup. He made an announcement in advance: “I feel more ready for a World Cup than ever before. I feel better than ever.”
The 23-year-old Pedri, who also plays for FC Barcelona, has long since established himself. He is also considered a superstar in his younger years and already has 40 international caps to his name. He plays number ten for the Spanish team and has been given the nickname “Pedri Potter” because of his seemingly magical abilities.
There is also 19-year-old Pau Cubarsi (FC Barcelona), who secured a starting place in the Spanish central defense after a strong season, and 23-year-old Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), who already impressed with his wing runs at the 2024 European Championships.
Third: Spain comes to the 2026 World Cup with anger in its stomach
It may be hard to believe, but since the 2010 title, Spain and the World Cup have not been a love story. In Brazil in 2014, the Iberians were thrown out without a sound after three defeats in the preliminary round, and the last two tournaments ended in the round of 16. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Iberians even remained winless in their last three games.
Compared to the immense potential, of course, far too little – that’s why this time Spain is traveling with anger in its stomach and is looking for compensation. “We are in top shape and ready”coach de la Fuente looked ahead.
Is Spain catching the “wave”?
So there are valid reasons for Spain to win the World Cup. According to human judgment, the winless streak should be broken in the opening game against the Cape Verde Islands. With a clear success could “La Selection” provide additional self-confidence and euphoria that, if everything goes smoothly, will last until July 19th, when it will finally be decided who will be able to lift the World Cup trophy into the sky in New York / New Jersey.