Spain national football team

History

Spain has been a member of FIFA since its founding in 1904, even though the Spanish Football Federation was first established in 1909. The first Spain national football team was constituted in 1920, with the main objective of finding a team that would represent Spain at the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Belgium in that same year. Spain made their debut at the tournament on 28 August 1920 against Denmark, silver medalists at the last two Olympic tournaments. Spain managed to win that match by a scoreline of 1–0, eventually finishing with the silver medal. Spain qualified for their first FIFA World Cup in 1934, defeating Brazil in their first game and losing in a replay to the hosts and eventual champions Italy in the quarter-finals. The Spanish Civil War and World War II prevented Spain from playing any competitive matches between the 1934 World Cup and the 1950 edition's qualifiers. At the 1950 finals in Brazil, they topped their group to progress to the final round, where they finished in fourth place. Until 2010, this had been Spain's highest finish at the FIFA World Cup.

Spain won its first major international title when it hosted the 1964 European Nations' Cup, defeating the Soviet Union 2–1 in the final at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. The victory would stand as Spain's lone major title for 44 years. Spain was selected as host of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, reaching the second round and four years later they reached the quarter-finals before a penalty shootout defeat to Belgium. At UEFA Euro 1984, they lost the final against France. Spain reached the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup. The match became controversial when Italian defender Mauro Tassotti struck Luis Enrique with his elbow inside Spain's penalty area, causing Luis Enrique to bleed profusely from his nose and mouth, but it was not noticed nor sanctioned by referee Sándor Puhl. Had the official awarded a foul, Spain would have received a penalty kick. In the 2002 World Cup, Spain won its three group play matches, then defeated the Republic of Ireland on penalties in the second round. They faced co-hosts South Korea in the quarter-finals, losing in a shootout after having two goals controversially called back for alleged infractions during regular and extra time.

At UEFA Euro 2008, Spain won all their games in Group D. Italy were the opponents in the quarter-finals, where Spain won 4–2 on penalties. They then met Russia again in the semi-finals, beating them 3–0. In the final, Spain defeated Germany 1–0, with Fernando Torres scoring the only goal of the game, as Spain won their first major title since the 1964 European Championship. Xavi was awarded the player of the tournament. The following year the side finished third at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup breaking their 35-match unbeaten streak that began in November 2006 after a loss to the United States. In the 2010 World Cup, Spain advanced to the final for the first time ever by defeating Germany 1–0. In the decisive match against the Netherlands, Andrés Iniesta scored the match's only goal, coming in extra time. Spain became the third team to win a World Cup outside their own continent, and the first European team to do so. They then qualified for UEFA Euro 2012, finishing on top of Group I with a perfect 100% record. They became the first team to retain the European Championship, winning the final 4–0 against Italy, while Fernando Torres won the Golden Boot for top scorer of the tournament.

Spain advanced to the final of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, losing to hosts Brazil, and the following year they were eliminated from the group stage of the 2014 World Cup. At Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, the side were eliminated in the round of 16 in both tournaments, losing to Italy 2–0 and Russia 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. In the UEFA Euro 2020, held in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays, Spain made a breakthrough, reaching the last four of a major tournament for the first time since 2012, before losing to eventual champions Italy 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. The team finished the tournament with two wins and four draws (including two penalty shootouts). The same year they managed to reach the Nations League final, losing against France. In the 2022 World Cup, Spain finished second in their group before losing to Morocco 3–0 on penalties after a 0–0 draw, their third consecutive elimination from a major tournament in penalty shootouts.

Spain finished first in their group in UEFA Euro 2024 without conceding a goal, and went on to defeat Georgia in the round of 16 by a score of 4–1. They eventually eliminated hosts Germany in the quarter-finals with a 2–1 win and defeated France in the semi-finals with the same result, qualifying for their fifth European Championship final, where they won their record-breaking fourth European title by defeating England 2–1. Spain became the first team to win all seven matches in a single European Championship tournament, while setting a new record of 15 goals scored in a single European Championship.

Spain continued its success during the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League, where they defeated Netherlands in the quarter-finals and then France in the semi-finals, thus reaching their second consecutive UEFA Nations League final and their third overall appearance, with some commentators drawing similarities to Spain's previous "golden age". With their victory over France, Spain extended their undefeated record to 23 matches.

Team image

Nicknames

Spain's team was known in the past by some fans as "La furia española", ; this nickname was originally given by a Dutch newspaper, recalling the "Sack of Antwerp" – an episode in the military history of Spain. More modernly, the team is called "La roja", .

Style of play

Main article: Tiki-taka

Between 2008 and 2012, the team played a style of football dubbed 'tiki-taka', a systems approach to football founded upon the ideal of team unity and a comprehensive understanding in the geometry of space on a football field.

Tiki-taka has been variously described as "a style of play based on making your way to the back of the net through short passing and movement", a "short passing style in which the ball is worked carefully through various channels", and a "nonsensical phrase that has come to mean short passing, patience and possession above all else". The style involves roaming movement and positional interchange amongst midfielders, moving the ball in intricate patterns, and sharp, one or two-touch passing. Tiki-taka is "both defensive and offensive in equal measure" – the team is always in possession, so doesn't need to switch between defending and attacking. Commentators have contrasted tiki-taka with "Route One physicality" and with the higher-tempo passing of Barcelona and Arsène Wenger's 2007–08 Arsenal side, which employed Cesc Fàbregas as the only channel between defence and attack. Tiki-taka is associated with flair, creativity, and touch, but can also be taken to a "slow, directionless extreme" that sacrifices effectiveness for aesthetics.

Tiki-taka was successfully employed by Spain to win Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. The 2008–12 teams are regarded as being among the greatest of international teams in football history.

Sid Lowe identifies Luis Aragonés' tempering of tiki-taka with pragmatism as a key factor in Spain's success in Euro 2008. Aragonés used tiki-taka to "protect a defense that appeared suspect [...], maintain possession and dominate games" without taking the style to "evangelical extremes". None of Spain's first six goals in the tournament came from tiki-taka: five came from direct breaks and one from a set play. For Lowe, Spain's success in the 2010 World Cup was evidence of the meeting of two traditions in Spanish football: the "powerful, aggressive, direct" style that earned the silver medal-winning 1920 Antwerp Olympic team the nickname La furia española () and the tiki-taka style of the contemporary Spain's team, which focused on a collective, short-passing, technical and possession-based game.

Analyzing Spain's semi-final victory over Germany at the 2010 World Cup, Raphael Honigstein described Spain's tiki-taka style as "the most difficult version of football possible: an uncompromising passing game, coupled with intense, high pressing". For Honigstein, tiki-taka is "a significant upgrade" of the Netherlands' Total Football because it relies on ball movement rather than players switching position. Tiki-taka allowed Spain to "control both the ball and the opponent".

Kits and crest

Spain's home kit is traditionally a red jersey with yellow trim, dark blue shorts, and black socks, whilst their current away kit is predominantly yellow, having been white traditionally. The color of the home socks started to alter throughout the 1990s from black to the same blue color as the shorts, then matching either the blue of the shorts or the red of the shirt until the mid-2010s when they returned to their traditional black before continuing the rotation in the 2020s. Spain's kits have been produced by manufacturers including Adidas (from 1981 until 1983), Le Coq Sportif (from 1984 until 1990) and Adidas once again (since 1991). Rather than displaying the logo of the Spanish Football Federation, Spain's jersey traditionally features the country's coat of arms over the left side. After winning the 2010 World Cup, the World Cup winners badge was added to the right side of the jersey and a golden star at the top of Spain's coat of arms.

Kit suppliers

Home stadium

Main article: List of football stadiums in Spain

Spain does not have a designated national stadium. The capital city of Madrid (Bernabéu and Metropolitano), Seville (Pizjuán, Villamarín and La Cartuja), Valencia (Mestalla and Orriols) and Barcelona (Camp Nou and Montjuïc), are the four Spanish cities that have hosted more than 15 national team matches, while also being home to the largest stadiums in the country.

Other friendly matches, as well as qualifying fixtures against smaller opponents, are played in provincial stadia. The 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign included matches at the Reino de León in León, Los Cármenes in Granada, El Molinón in Gijón, and the Rico Pérez in Alicante.

Media coverage

Spain's UEFA Nations League, UEFA European Qualifiers and all friendly matches, are televised nationwide by La 1, flagship television channel of the public broadcaster TVE.

Rivalries

Spain has rivalries with five countries, four of them being Europe's "Big Five" nations and the other with its Iberian neighbor Portugal.

• Their rivalry with Italy, sometimes referred to as the "Mediterranean derby", has been contested since 1920. Their first meeting was at the Olympic Games, in a 2–0 triumph for Spain on 2 September 1920 in Antwerp. Although the two nations are not immediate geographical neighbours, their rivalry at international level is enhanced by the strong performances of the representative clubs in UEFA competitions, in which they are among the leading associations and have each enjoyed spells of dominance. Since the quarter-final match between the two countries at Euro 2008, the rivalry has renewed, with its most notable match between the two sides being in the UEFA Euro 2012 final, which Spain won 4–0. Spain has the advantage in the head-to-head, with 14 wins, 16 draws, and 11 losses, after 41 games, but both teams evenly split with 6 wins each when only competitive matches are counted.

• Their rivalry with Portugal, also known as the "Iberian derby", has been contested since 1921. Their first meeting was a 3–1 triumph for Spain on 18 December 1921 in Madrid, the first ever international game for the Portuguese. Portugal had first draw in 1926, and their first win (4–1) in 1947. In this friendly rivalry, Spain dominates the head-to-head record with 17 victories, 17 draws, and 6 losses, after 40 games. They also lead Portugal in competitive matches, with 5 wins to Portugal's 1 with 5 draws. Spain eventually lost to Portugal in the 2025 Nations League final on penalties.

• Their rivalry with France, sometimes referred to as the "Pyrenean derby", has been contested since 1922. Their first meeting was a 4–0 triumph for Spain on 30 April 1922 in Bordeaux, though their first competitive meeting came in the UEFA Euro 1984 final, which France won to receive their first international trophy. Spain has the advantage in the head-to-head, with 17 wins, 7 draws, and 13 losses, after 37 games. France has a slight advantage in competitive matches, with 6 wins compared to 4 of Spain. However, Spain leads in the 21st century, with 8 victories out of 12 matches between both teams.

• Their rivalry with England has been contested since 1929. Their first meeting was a 4–3 victory for Spain on 15 May 1929 in Madrid, the first ever English defeat outside the British Isles. The first of their nine competitive fixtures came at the 1950 World Cup in Maracanã, where Spain won 1–0 with a Telmo Zarra legendary goal. In their another World Cup meeting in 1982, Spain received England as hosts at the Bernabéu, in a second round stage match ended 0–0. One year before, in 1981, Spain achieved its first victory at Wembley. At the European Championship, they have met three times. In 1980, England won 2–1, sixteen years before a quarter-final at Wembley Stadium ended 0–0 after extra time with England advancing on penalties. At the UEFA Euro 2024 final, with England were aiming to win their first European title, the Spaniards won 2–1 in Berlin, winning a record fourth Euros. The head-to-head result for Spain is 11 wins, 4 draws and 13 losses, after 28 games.

• Their rivalry with Germany has been contested since 1935. Their first meeting was a 2–1 victory for Spain on 12 May 1935 in Cologne. Spain met a German side for the first time in a competitive fixture in 1966, as part of the 1966 World Cup, where West Germany (competing separately from East Germany at the time) came back to win 2–1. Since the German reunification in 1990, Spain has remained undefeated in competitive fixtures against Germany, winning 1–0 the UEFA Euro 2008 final, 0–1 the 2010 World Cup semi-final, 6–0 in the 2020–21 Nations League, and most recently in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, 2–1 against the hosts after extra-time. The head-to-head result is a tie with 9 wins each and 9 draws, after 27 games.

• Their rivalry with Netherlands, is one that has developed in recent years. Their first significant meeting came in the “final” of the 1920 Summer Olympics, where Spain defeated the Dutch 3–1 to win their first silverware in history. The team would meet again in another final 90 years later, this at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In a very heated contest, marked by many fouls by the Dutch side, Spain would win their first ever World Cup. Spain and the Netherlands would not see each other again until four years later in the group stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup; in a rematch of the 2010 final, the Dutch handed Spain their biggest defeat in 60 years as they won 5–1. Their next competitive game came in the 2025 edition of the Nations League, where Spain would go on to win the penalty shootout and eliminating the Dutch from the tournament.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2025

• Gakpo
• Reijnders
• van Dijk
• Hato
• Williams
• Huijsen
• Pérez
• Merino
• Oyarzabal
• Le Normand
• Yamal
• Unai Simón
• Depay
• Maatsen
• Simons
• Merino
• Torres
• García
• Yamal
• Baena
• Pedri
• Van Dijk
• Koopmeiners
• Simons
• Lang
• Taylor
• Malen
• Williams
• Merino
• Yamal
• Pedri
• Gavi
• Rabiot
• Mbappé
• Cherki
• Hernandez
• Vivian
• Kolo Muani
• Koné
• Inácio
• Mendes
• Ronaldo
• Neto
• Zubimendi
• Ruiz
• Oyarzabal
• Le Normand
• Baena
• Porro
• Ramos
• Vitinha
• Fernandes
• Mendes
• R. Neves
• Merino
• Baena
• Isco
• Morata
• Oyarzabal
• Cucurella
• Merino
• Le Normand
• Pedri
• Merino
• Torres
• Pino
• Oyarzabal
• Merino
• Chernev
• Oyarzabal
• Oyarzabal
• Zubimendi
• Torres
• Olmo
• Oyarzabal
• Gül
• Özcan

2026

Coaching staff

Main article: List of Spain national football team managers

Players

Main article: List of Spain international footballers

Current squad

The following 26 players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Georgia and Turkey on 15 and 18 November 2025, respectively. On November 11, Lamine Yamal was withdrawn from the squad after undergoing an invasive radiofrequency procedure to treat a groin injury and was replaced by Jorge de Frutos.

Caps and goals updated as of 18 November 2025, after the match against Turkey.

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up for the team in the last twelve months.

INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury

PRE Preliminary squad / standby

WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue

RET Player retired from the national team

SUS Player is serving suspension

Individual records

Player records

Main article: List of Spain international footballers, Spain national football team records and statistics

Sergio Ramos holds the record for most appearances for the Spain's team with 180. In second place is Iker Casillas with 167, followed by Sergio Busquets with 143.

David Villa holds the title of Spain's highest goalscorer, scoring 59 goals from 2005 to 2017, during which time he played for Spain on 98 occasions. Raúl González is the second highest goalscorer, scoring 44 goals in 102 appearances between 1996 and 2006.

Most appearances

Below is a list of the ten players with the most caps for Spain, .

:Players in bold are still active with Spain.

Youngest capped player

• Lamine Yamal (16 years and 57 days) vs. , 8 September 2023

Oldest capped player

• Jesús Navas (38 years and 231 days) vs. , 9 July 2024

Top goalscorers

Below is a list of the top ten goalscorers for Spain, .

Youngest goalscorer

• Lamine Yamal (16 years and 57 days) vs. , 8 September 2023

Oldest goalscorer

• Aritz Aduriz (35 years and 274 days) vs. , 12 November 2016

Most goals scored in a single match

• Chacho (6 goals) vs. , 13 May 1933

First goal scored

• Juan Arzuaga vs. , 25 May 1913 (unofficial game)
• Patricio Arabolaza vs. , 28 August 1920 (official game)

Captains

Main article: List of Spain national football team captains

List of Spain's captains in major tournaments.

• Mariano Arrate (3 caps as captain) was captain during the 1920 Summer Olympics.
• Pedro Vallana (5) was captain during the 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics.
• Ricardo Zamora (24) was captain during the 1934 FIFA World Cup.
• Ignacio Eizaguirre (4) was captain during the 1950 FIFA World Cup.
• Joan Segarra (15) was captain during the 1962 FIFA World Cup.
• Ferran Olivella (10) was captain during the 1964 European Nations' Cup.
• Francisco Gento (15) was captain during the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
• Pirri (18) was captain during the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
• Juan Manuel Asensi (14) was captain during the UEFA Euro 1980.
• Luis Arconada (48) was captain during the 1982 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 1984.
• José Antonio Camacho (24) was captain during the 1986 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 1988.
• Emilio Butragueño (31) was captain during the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
• Andoni Zubizarreta (50) was captain during the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Euro 1996 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
• Fernando Hierro (32) was captain during Euro 2000 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
• Raúl (42) was captain during Euro 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
• Iker Casillas (104) was captain during Euro 2008, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2012, the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2016.
• Sergio Ramos (54) was captain during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
• Sergio Busquets (20) was captain during Euro 2020, the 2021 UEFA Nations League Finals and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
• Jordi Alba (2) was captain during the 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals.
• Álvaro Morata (9) was captain during Euro 2024 and the 2025 UEFA Nations League Finals.

Manager records

Main article: List of Spain national football team managers, Spain national football team records and statistics

• Most manager appearances :Vicente del Bosque: 114

Team records

Main article: Spain national football team records and statistics

• Most consecutive wins achieved by an international coach from debut: 13 – Vicente del Bosque
• Most penalty shoot-outs in one World Cup by one team: 2 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup (shared with at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, and at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and and at the 2022 FIFA World Cup)
• Highest maximum number of points in World Cup qualification: 30 out of 30 (2010) (shared with for 2018)

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

Main article: Spain at the FIFA World Cup

Although often entering tournaments as one of the favorites, Spain have sometimes been perceived as underachieving at the World Cup. Spain's first World Cup was in 1934; at that tournament, their campaignstarted by defeating Brazil 3–1 to advance to the quarter-finals, where they lost to hosts Italy in a replay. Before Spain's success in 2010, their best result came in 1950, where they reached the last four. Spain were paired with the hosts Brazil, as well as Uruguay and Sweden. Spain managed a draw against Uruguay but defeats from Brazil and Sweden meant that Spain would end up in fourth place. At the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa, Spain became world champions for the first time after defeating the Netherlands 1–0 in the final, becoming the eighth country to win the World Cup.

Champions Runners-up Third place Hosts or co-hosts

UEFA European Championship

Main article: Spain at the UEFA European Championship

Spain have won the most UEFA European Championships, with four titles. La Roja are also the only nation to date to have won consecutive championships. They have hosted the tournament once, in 1964 (one city was used to host games at Euro 2020) and have appeared in a total of twelve tournaments.

The team won their first international trophy on home soil in 1964, defeating the Soviet Union 2–1. Spain would reach the final twenty years later in 1984, where they would lose the final to France. Spain would not reach the final again until 2008, where they would defeat Germany 1–0. Four years later, Spain earned back-to-back titles, comprehensively defeating Italy 4–0 in the final in Kyiv.

It would take La Roja twelve years to reach another European final, doing so in 2024 against England, a match they won 2–1 to stand alone as the most successful national team in the competition's history with four titles, while at the same time becoming the first team ever to win all seven matches in a single tournament.

UEFA Nations League

Since the inaugural UEFA Nations League, La Roja have remained in League A and have reached the UEFA Nations League Finals on three occasions, only failing to do so in the inaugural season. At the 2021 finals, Spain won their semi-final after defeating Italy 2–1 but lost to France in the final. In the following campaign, La Roja would again reach the final thanks to another win against Italy. Spain would then beat Croatia on penalties after a 0–0 draw. Spain reached a record third consecutive final at the 2025 edition by defeating the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, and France in the semi-finals 5–4. In the first ever Iberian final, Spain faced Portugal in Munich. Despite dominating the game, Spain were unable to break through the Portuguese defense. The score ended 2–2 after 90 minutes and extra time, and Spain lost on penalties.

*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions

After winning a record fourth European Championship in 2024, Spain qualified to their first ever CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, where they are scheduled to face Argentina, the champions of the 2024 Copa América.

FIFA Confederations Cup

Spain made two appearances at the FIFA Confederations Cup. Their first appearance came in 2009 as European champions when they won a third place medal, after losing 2–0 to the United States in the semi-finals. At the next edition, Spain qualified as both World and European champions. La Roja reached the final in Brazil, but lost 3–0 to the hosts.

Olympic Games

;Rules (UEFA):

• 1900–1904: club teams
• 1908–1988: amateur / youth national teams
• 1992–present: under-23 national teams ;Note:
• No tournament held in 1932
• The Royal Spanish Football Federation was founded in 1913. Thus from 1900–1914 Spain did not participate at Olympic tournaments.

Spain made their debut at the 1920 Summer Olympics, where they played their first ever international match, a 1–0 victory over Denmark. At the conclusion of the tournament, Spain won their first silver medal.

Honours

Global

• FIFA World Cup
  • Champions (1): 2010
• FIFA Confederations Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 2013
  • Third place (1): 2009
• Olympic Games
  • Silver medal (1): 1920

Continental

• UEFA European Championship
  • Champions (4): 1964, 2008, 2012, 2024
  • Runners-up (1): 1984
• UEFA Nations League
  • Champions (1): 2023
  • Runners-up (2): 2021, 2025

Awards

• FIFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2025
• Laureus World Team of the Year: 2011
• World Soccer Team of the Year: 2008, 2010, 2012, 2024
• Gazzetta Sports World Team of the Year: 2010, 2012
• Prince of Asturias Award for Sports: 2010
• FIFA World Cup Fair Play Trophy: 2006, 2010, 2018
• FIFA Confederations Cup Fair Play Award: 2013

Source:

Summary

Notes

References

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