Spain secured their place at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday after a nail-biting 2-2 draw with Turkey in Seville to finish unbeaten at the top of Group E despite receiving a major shock from the resilient visitor.
The European champions took an early lead in the fourth minute through Dani Olmo, but Turkey, who needed an almost impossible seven-goal victory to claim the group, equalized through Deniz Gul in the 42nd minute.
Turkey then stunned the home crowd by taking the lead in the 54th minute thanks to Salih Ozcan’s goal from the edge of the penalty area.
However, Mikel Oyarzabal leveled the match eight minutes later to avoid what would have been Spain’s first home defeat in a qualifying match, and Turkey had to settle for a place in the play-offs for next year’s final in North America.
«We didn’t celebrate as euphorically as we would have liked. We wanted to end with another win and another clean sheet. It’s a bittersweet feeling… But we are happy to have qualified for the World Cup,» Olmo told TVE.
«They created chances, and so did we. We could have scored a few more goals. We have to improve the set pieces. We are excited, but first there is the next international break in March. There will be time to prepare.»
Spain started well despite the absence of key players such as Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Dani Carvajal, Pedri and Dean Huijsen.
It took the lead in the fourth minute after Marc Cucurella delivered a low cross from the left flank which Fabian Ruiz dummyed, allowing Olmo to maneuver past a defender before driving the ball into the net.
Spain almost extended its lead when Olmo tested Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayindir twice in quick succession from the edge of the penalty area.
Turkey, which was hardly threatened, woke up in the 42nd minute. Baris Alper Yilmaz outwitted Aymeric Laporte to deliver a corner, while Gul shot past the Spanish defense and pushed the ball past Unai Simon.
It was the first goal Spain conceded in its World Cup qualifying campaign.
Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey grew in confidence after the break and took the lead in the 55th minute when Ozcan scored with a precise low finish from the edge of the penalty area, completing an intricate team move that put Turkey 2-1 ahead.
Spain equalized through Oyarzabal after Yeremy Pino’s run down the left ended with a goal-line free-kick by a Turkish defender. The Real Sociedad striker pounced on the rebound and buried it in the back of the net.
The draw extended Spain’s unbeaten run to 31 games.
The 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States will mark Spain’s seventeenth appearance in the tournament, continuing an unbroken qualifying streak that began in 1978. The country won its only title in 2010, when it lifted the trophy in South Africa.
Published on November 19, 2025
