Spain secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Turkey in Seville, a result that ensured Luis de la Fuente’s side finished top of Group E. Despite losing their perfect defensive record, La Roja’s consistency throughout the qualifying campaign saw them safely through, having won and kept a clean sheet in five of their six matches.
The home crowd at Estadio de La Cartuja erupted early as Spain looked set to maintain their flawless run. Just four minutes into the game, Dani Olmo marked his first start since March in style, guiding Marc Cucurella’s precise cut-back into the net for his 12th international goal. The Barcelona forward, who looked lively throughout the first half, came close to doubling the lead on two occasions but was denied by Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayindir’s sharp reflexes.
However, Turkey showed resilience and tactical discipline, refusing to be overwhelmed by Spain’s early dominance. Their efforts were rewarded three minutes before half-time when Deniz Gul calmly steered the ball past Unai Simon to score the first goal Spain have conceded in this qualifying campaign.
The visitors’ momentum carried into the second half, and on 54 minutes, Salih Ozcan’s low drive found the bottom corner to give Turkey a surprise lead. That goal briefly threatened to end Spain’s remarkable 30-match unbeaten run in competitive internationals.
But Mikel Oyarzabal, in outstanding form throughout the qualifiers, quickly restored parity eight minutes later. The Real Sociedad forward reacted quickest to a rebound after Yeremy Pino’s effort was cleared off the line, tapping home his sixth goal of the campaign to level the score at 2-2.
Turkey, who needed an improbable seven-goal victory to leapfrog Spain, continued to press with intensity. Baris Yilmaz nearly produced a stunning winner, his acrobatic overhead kick forcing Simon into a brilliant save as the tension rose in Seville.
When the final whistle blew, Spain’s players celebrated their achievement with relief and pride. The draw was enough to cement their place at the 2026 World Cup, preserving an unbeaten qualifying record and reaffirming their status as one of Europe’s most consistent national teams.
For Turkey, the performance was spirited and commendable, though it ultimately earned them only a play-off spot. Meanwhile, Spain join England as the only European sides to finish qualifying undefeated, with England the sole team to avoid conceding a goal.
