Spain has set a special image in world football, and tiki-taka has set the world football culture. The 2010 World Cup champions are among the favourites for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Although Spain had a rough start in the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a goalless draw against the tournament debutant Cape Verde, they still finished as Group H champions after winning the next two fixtures against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay by 4-0 and 1-0 each. In the Round of 32, Spain faced Austria, which they won 3-0, as La Roja advanced to the Round of 16.
FIFA World Cup: Knockout Stage Records
Final Appearances: 1 time
Spain has played one FIFA World Cup Final, and they won that in the 2010 edition after beating the Netherlands.
Won: 1 time (2010)
Lost: Never
Result at extra time (after regular time):
Won: 1 time (2010)
Lost: Never
Round of 16: 9 games
Spain have mixed records in the World Cup Round of 16.
Won: 5 matches (including 1 penalty shootout)
Lost: 4 matches (including 2 penalty shootouts)
Quarterfinals: 5 games
Spain have won only one game in the World Cup Quarterfinals.
Won: 1 match
Lost: 4 matches (including 1 rematch, 2 penalty shootouts)
Semifinals: 1 game
Spain have played only one World Cup Semi-final, which they won in the 2010 edition.
Won: 1 match
Lost: Never
Spain’s best and worst performances in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages
Biggest Wins
5-1 vs Denmark (Round of 16, 1986)
3-0 vs Switzerland (Round of 16, 1994)
Biggest Defeats
3-1 vs France (Round of 16, 2006)
2-1 vs Italy (Quarterfinal, 1994)
Spain status in the last 5 major tournaments:
EURO 2024: Champions
FIFA World Cup 2022: Round of 16
EURO 2020: Semifinals
FIFA World Cup 2018: Round of 16
EURO 2016: Round of 16
Spain are the latest Euro Cup champions, while they reached the Semi-finals in the Euro 2020. In the last two World Cups (2018 and 2022), they were eliminated from the Round of 16.
