{"id":1450807,"date":"2026-07-19T23:31:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T22:31:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=news&#038;p=1450807"},"modified":"2026-07-19T23:44:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T22:44:39","slug":"spain-world-cup-2026-route-to-the-final-18-07","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/world-cup\/spain-world-cup-2026-route-to-the-final-18-07\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain World Cup 2026: La Roja crowned champions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/spain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spain<\/a>&#8216;s quest to become two-time world champions ended in triumph after beating Argentina 1-0 after extra-time in the World Cup final.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The quest got off to a rocky start, with Spain held to a shock goalless draw by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/cabo-verde\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cape Verde<\/a> in their opening match. But Luis de la Fuente&#8217;s side have responded in great fashion. They won their next two games without conceded to finish top of the group, beating <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/saudi-arabia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Saudi Arabia<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/uruguay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Uruguay<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spain&#8217;s victory owes much to their defence, with La Roja conceding just one goal in the eight matches they played at the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"vcsw-sports-widgets shortcode vcsw-sports-fixtures\" id=\"sports_fixtures-1\"><script type=\"application\/json\">{\"sports_type\":\"football\",\"competition\":\"\",\"participant_id\":\"665db6e3e93e306d7f469e8f\",\"start_date\":\"\",\"widget_type\":\"fixtures\",\"results\":false,\"groups\":\"\",\"stage\":\"\"}<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/outright-markets\/spain-world-cup-2026-odds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Get the latest Spain World Cup 2026 outright odds here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-spain-world-cup-2026-stats\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spain World Cup 2026 stats<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"vcsw-sports-widgets shortcode vcsw-stats-cards\" id=\"stats_cards-1\"><script type=\"application\/json\">{\"sports_type\":\"football\",\"widget_type\":\"stats\",\"display_mode\":\"table\",\"competition\":\"667aabbb773e0180d8f74d65\",\"cards\":[{\"stats\":[{\"value\":\"Games\",\"label\":\"Games\"},{\"value\":\"Shots (excl blocks)\",\"label\":\"Shots (excl blocks)\"},{\"value\":\"Goals\",\"label\":\"Goals\"},{\"value\":\"Assists\",\"label\":\"Assists\"},{\"value\":\"Tackles Made\",\"label\":\"Tackles Made\"},{\"value\":\"Yellow Cards\",\"label\":\"Yellow Cards\"},{\"value\":\"Red Cards\",\"label\":\"Red Cards\"}],\"entity\":\"members\",\"participant\":\"\"}],\"top_count\":10,\"full_list\":\"true\",\"participant\":\"665db6e3e93e306d7f469e8f\"}<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-spain-s-key-players-for-world-cup-2026\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spain&#8217;s key players for World Cup 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-spain-top-world-cup-golden-boot-contender-mikel-oyarzabal\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Spain top World Cup Golden Boot contender: Mikel Oyarzabal<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Key stat<\/strong>: Mikel Oyarzabal has scored five goals at the 2026 World Cup so far.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was a lot of conversation surrounding Spain&#8217;s striker role at the World Cup this summer. They are still without a natural striker, though it hasn&#8217;t hurt them in the past. And it&#8217;s not hurting them now. That&#8217;s because Mikel Oyarzabal has stepped up when playing through the middle. He has scored five goals at the World Cup so far, a good chunk of Spain&#8217;s total tally of 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-spain-primary-playmaker-dani-olmo\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Spain primary playmaker: Dani Olmo<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Key stat<\/strong>: Dani Olmo has created nine chances at the World Cup so far.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not many people will have expected Dani Olmo to play such an important role at the World Cup this summer. And it wasn&#8217;t clear from their opening games. But as the tournament has gone on, Olmo has become one of Spain&#8217;s key players and an almost-guaranteed starter. He is one of five Spain players to have created at least nine chances at the World Cup, with only Alex Baena (10) ahead of him. But Olmo sits joint-top for Spain for his three big chances created, and two assists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-spain-card-magnet-amp-top-tackler-rodri\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Spain card magnet &amp; top tackler: Rodri<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Key stat<\/strong>: Rodri has made 22 tackes for Spain at the World Cup.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Pedri has been the creative force from midfield, Rodri has been the stopper. Not much has got past the midfielder this summer, with Rodri a perfect shield for the defensive line. He&#8217;s made 22 tackles at the World Cup this summer, almost twice as many as any other Spanish player. Alongside those tackles, Rodri has also committed nine fouls. While that may not sound like much, only one Spanish player has committed more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-spain-rising-star-lamine-yamal\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Spain rising star: Lamine Yamal<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There may not be a more obvious rising star at this World Cup than Lamine Yamal. It feels like a lot of Spain&#8217;s hopes rest on Yamal, and that was shown in their performances without the teenager in their opening game. Yamal has the world at his feet and could already announce himself as among the best should he guide Spain to glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>STAND-OUT STAT: <strong>Spain<\/strong>&#8216;s World Cup triumph in 2010 is also the only time they have reached the semi-finals of the tournament in their last 14 participations.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Spain&#8217;s set-piece specialists<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Penalties<\/strong>: Mikel Oyarzabal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Free-kicks<\/strong>: Alex Baena<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Corners<\/strong>: Alex Baena, Lamine Yamal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-spain-tactical-analysis-and-formation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spain tactical analysis and formation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Spain&#8217;s team stats (average per game at World Cup 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Corners<\/strong>: 6.43<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shots on target<\/strong>: 6.0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shots on target conceded<\/strong>: 1.43<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Offsides<\/strong>: 2.43<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/07\/08193104\/spain-average-positions-world-cup-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1467381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/07\/08193104\/spain-average-positions-world-cup-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/07\/08193104\/spain-average-positions-world-cup-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/07\/08193104\/spain-average-positions-world-cup-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/07\/08193104\/spain-average-positions-world-cup-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/07\/08193104\/spain-average-positions-world-cup-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/07\/08193104\/spain-average-positions-world-cup-267x267.jpg 267w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/07\/08193104\/spain-average-positions-world-cup-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/07\/08193104\/spain-average-positions-world-cup-60x60.jpg 60w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/07\/08193104\/spain-average-positions-world-cup-74x74.jpg 74w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/07\/08193104\/spain-average-positions-world-cup.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">De la Fuente has alternated between Spain&#8217;s tried-and-tested 4-3-3 formation and a 4-2-3-1. Regardless of the setup, two of the midfield three have remained the same. Rodri and Pedri have been ever-present, joined by a different man depending on what De la Fuente wants from a game. Dani Olmo appears to have found favour, though, both as a No.10 and an attacking No.8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Nico Williams is still struggling with injuries, Alex Baena has made the left-wing spot his own, with Lamine Yamal on the right. There has also been a battle for the left-back spot, that Pedro Porro appears to have won over Marcos Llorente. Unai Simon remains Spain&#8217;s first-choice goalkeeper, despite David Raya&#8217;s strong club season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/spain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Get the latest Spain World Cup goals, assists, shots, passes and tackle stats here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-spain-manager-analysis\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spain manager analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Luis de la Fuente doesn\u2019t boast the most glamourous managerial CV. He succeeded Luis Enrique in the Spain hotseat following their disappointing 2022 World Cup campaign. The 64-year-old was initially handed a contract until Euro 2024, but success in Germany means he\u2019ll remain at the Spain helm until after Euro 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">De la Fuente wants his Spain side to dominate opponents. It\u2019s easy to do, too, given the calibre of personnel he\u2019s able to call upon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Coach<\/th><th>Team<\/th><th>P<\/th><th>W<\/th><th>D<\/th><th>L<\/th><th>Win %<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Luis de la Fuente<\/td><td>Spain<\/td><td>48<\/td><td>36<\/td><td>10<\/td><td>2<\/td><td>75<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-spain-world-cup-faqs\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spain World Cup FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Have Spain ever won the World Cup?<\/strong><br><br>Yes, Spain have won the World Cup once in their history. Andres Iniesta scored the decisive goal in extra time in South Africa in 2010 to deliver their first ever World Cup during a period of dominance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Where did Spain finish at the last World Cup?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the quality of personnel available to Luis Enrique, Spain crashed out of the 2022 World Cup on penalties at the expense of Morocco at the round-of-16 stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Who will be Spain captain at the World Cup?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rodri has been captaining Spain at the World Cup this summer, with Alvaro Morata missing out on the squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Who is Spain\u2019s all-time top goalscorer at World Cups?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former Barcelona and Valencia striker David Villa is currently Spain\u2019s top scorer in World Cup history, scoring nine goals.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/world-cup-2026-betting-tips-predictions\/\"><strong>World Cup predictions &amp; tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/outright-markets\/world-cup-outright-odds\/\"><strong>World Cup outright odds <\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/world-cup-2026-fixtures-results\/\"><b>World Cup fixtures &amp; results<\/b><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/world-cup-2026-betting-offers\/\"><b>World Cup free bets<\/b><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"sq-articles-list\">\n                    <h2 class=\"sq-heading-line\">Latest News<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"sq-cards\">\n                                            <article class=\"sq-card\">\n                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          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/jackkitson\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Jack Kitson                                <\/a>\n                                                        <time class=\"sq-card__label\">2 days ago<\/time>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/article>\n                                            <article class=\"sq-card\">\n                                            <div class=\"sq-card__thumbnail\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/aston-villa-premier-league-2026-27-preview\/\" class=\"sq-thumbnail\">\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/3F5CC0G-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>                            <\/a>\n                        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class=\"sq-card__thumbnail\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/motherwell-vs-falkirk-predictions-betting-tips-09-08-26\/\" class=\"sq-thumbnail\">\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/05125238\/banner-4-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"sq-card__content\">\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__meta\">\n                            <span class=\"sq-card__label\">News<\/span>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/motherwell-vs-falkirk-predictions-betting-tips-09-08-26\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">\n                                    Motherwell vs Falkirk predictions and betting tips: Will Maswanhise fire Motherwell past Falkirk?                                <\/h2>\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/andrewfrancis\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Andy Francis                                <\/a>\n                                                        <time class=\"sq-card__label\">3 days ago<\/time>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/article>\n                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spain&#8216;s quest to become two-time world champions ended in triumph after beating Argentina 1-0 after extra-time in the World Cup final. The quest got off to a rocky start, with Spain held to a shock goalless draw by Cape Verde in their opening match. But Luis de la Fuente&#8217;s side have responded in great fashion&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":427,"featured_media":1456457,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"spain route to the final","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Everything you need to know about Spain and their potential route to the final, next match, and tactical analysis at World Cup 2026.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"news-category":[27626],"class_list":["post-1450807","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-category-world-cup"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Spain World Cup 2026: La Roja crowned champions | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Everything you need to 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