Spain booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a thrilling 2-2 draw against Turkiye in their final Group E qualifier. Despite being challenged by Turkiye, the Euro 2024 champions finished unbeaten at the top of their group, while Turkiye secured a playoff spot.

Spain Finish Unbeaten in Qualifying

Dani Olmo put Spain ahead early in the match, but Turkiye responded with goals from Deniz Gul and Salih Ozcan, handing Spain their first dropped points in qualification. Mikel Oyarzabal equalized in the second half, ensuring Spain maintained their perfect record.

Spain scored a total of 21 goals in qualifying, conceding only twice, and have now gone 31 consecutive matches unbeaten, a national record. This streak includes a 2-2 Nations League final draw with Portugal, which Spain lost on penalties.

Key Players Missing and Tactical Notes

Spain were missing key squad members, including Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Rodri, which contributed to Turkiye’s ability to challenge the European champions. Despite these absences, Spain only needed to avoid a heavy defeat to secure qualification—a scenario that never materialized.

Spain’s early dominance was evident when Marc Cucurella’s cross found Olmo in the box, who controlled the ball and scored in the fourth minute. Olmo also came close to scoring a second goal, but Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir made crucial saves.

Turkiye Push Back

Turkiye made history by becoming the first team to score against Spain in qualifying. Deniz Gul equalized before halftime, and Salih Ozcan put Turkiye ahead in the second half with a powerful strike from outside the box. Spain responded quickly, with Oyarzabal scoring his sixth goal of the qualifying campaign, showcasing his credentials as Spain’s potential starting striker at the World Cup.

Substitutes Samu Aghehowa and Alex Baena both came close to giving Spain a winner, but Bayindir’s inspired goalkeeping secured a point for Turkiye. Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez scored in stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Other World Cup Qualifiers

Elsewhere in Europe, Scotland reached the World Cup for the first time since 1998 with a 4-2 win over 10-man Denmark, scoring two dramatic stoppage-time goals. Austria secured qualification from Group H with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Belgium dominated Liechtenstein 7-0, and Switzerland qualified after a 1-1 draw at Kosovo.

The 12 group winners qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup, while runners-up will compete in playoffs along with the four best-ranked group winners from the 2024-2025 Nations League who did not finish first or second in their groups. The playoffs are scheduled for March 26 and March 31, 2026.

Road to the World Cup 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spain, unbeaten in qualification and boasting a potent attack led by Oyarzabal and Olmo, will enter the tournament as one of the favorites to lift football’s most prestigious trophy for a second time.