Spain’s World Cup 2026 team preview: Players to watch, group matches, squad

Previous World Cup appearances: 16 Best performance: Winners (2010) First appearance: 1934 (Italy) Top goal scorer: David Villa (9) Most appearances: Sergio Busquets, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos (17) Player to watch: Lamine Yamal FIFA world ranking: 2

The reigning European champions arguably boast the finest collection of Spanish talent since the 2008 and 2012 golden generation that swept all before them, and arguably come into the 2026 World Cup as the team to beat.

This potentially new golden generation is even younger and arguably boasts more depth than the last, and Spain have moved on from their tiki-taka heyday to instil a faster, more direct style under the steady tutelage of coach Luis de la Fuente.

However, Spain do have weaknesses and are under considerable pressure to deliver , especially after several recent World Cup let-downs.

Incredibly, La Roja have failed to progress beyond the last 16 in the World Cup since their one and only triumph in 2010.

Whether they can translate their talent into lifting the ultimate footballing prize for the second time is their defining question before this tournament.

Their perfect run to the 2024 Euros trophy demonstrated how far ahead they were of Europe’s elite, as they beat England, France and hosts Germany.

Spain have now gone 28 games unbeaten in normal time since March 2024, although there is a slight blemish on that record after they lost to Portugal on penalties in the 2025 Nations League final.