Spain Begins 2026 World Cup Qualifying in Bulgaria

Spain begins its UEFA qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an away match against Bulgaria in Sofia, a crucial opening of Group E that also includes Turkey and Georgia. Fresh off their UEFA Euro 2024 title and a recent Nations League finals loss to Portugal, Spain, led by coach Luis de la Fuente, is favored to top the group and maintain their unbeaten streak in official matches since March 2023. Key players Dani Carvajal and Rodri Hernandez are returning from injury, while young talent Lamine Yamal is expected to feature, despite injuries sidelining Gavi, Fabian Ruiz, and Yeremy Pino. Bulgaria, who have not qualified for a World Cup since 1998 and are struggling with recent form and goal-scoring difficulties, will rely on home support at the Vasil Levski National Stadium and a defensive setup to challenge Spain. The match marks Spain's first World Cup qualifier on Bulgarian soil, with Bulgaria's coach Ilian Iliev emphasizing the need for aggressive, intelligent play to counter Spain's dominance. The qualifiers are part of a condensed six-game sprint that includes top European teams entering at this later stage after participating in the Nations League.