Spain is one of the most experienced nations in FIFA World Cup history, having made 17 appearances in the tournament's 23 editions. Spain has reached the final twice, winning the title on both occasions, in 2010 and 2026.

Prior to their two wins, Spain's best World Cup result was a fourth-place finish in 1950.

FIFA World Cup record

Champions   Runners-up   Third place   Hosts or co-hosts record recordYearResultPosition* 1930 colspan=8 colspan=6 1934 Quarter-finals 5th 3 1 1 1 4 3 2 2 0 0 11 1 1938colspan=8 colspan=6 1950 Fourth place 4th 6 3 1 2 10 12 2 1 1 0 7 3 1954rowspan=2 colspan=8 3 1 1 1 6 4 1958 4 2 1 1 12 8 1962Group stage 12th 3 1 0 2 2 3 4 3 1 0 7 4 1966 10th 3 1 0 2 4 5 3 2 0 1 5 2 1970rowspan=2 colspan=8 6 2 2 2 10 6 1974 5 2 2 1 8 6 1978 Group stage 10th 3 1 1 1 2 2 4 3 0 1 4 1 1982 Second group stage 12th 5 1 2 2 4 5colspan=6 1986 Quarter-finals 7th 5 3 1 1 11 4 6 4 0 2 9 8 1990 Round of 16 10th 4 2 1 1 6 4 8 6 1 1 20 3 1994 Quarter-finals 8th 5 2 2 1 10 6 12 8 3 1 27 4 1998 Group stage 17th 3 1 1 1 8 4 10 8 2 0 26 6 2002 Quarter-finals 5th 5 3 2 0 10 5 8 6 2 0 21 4 2006 Round of 16 9th 4 3 0 1 9 4 12 6 6 0 25 5 2010Champions 1st 7 6 0 1 8 2 10 10 0 0 28 5 2014 Group stage 23rd 3 1 0 2 4 7 8 6 2 0 14 3 2018Round of 16 10th 4 1 3 0 7 6 10 9 1 0 36 3 2022 13th 4 1 2 1 9 3 8 6 1 1 15 5 2026Champions1st87101416510212 2030colspan=8 colspan=6 2034 colspan=8 colspan="7" Total:17/232 Titles1st753818191227613192271231283 *Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out

Spain's World Cup recordFirst match 3–1 (27 May 1934; Genoa, Italy)Biggest win 7–0 (23 November 2022; Doha, Qatar)Biggest defeat 6–1 (13 July 1950; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)Best resultChampions in 2010 and 2026Worst resultGroup stage in 1962, 1966, 1978, 1998 and 2014

By match YearRoundOpponentScoreSpain scorers 1934Round of 163–1Iraragorri (2), LángaraQuarter-final1–1 Regueiro0–1 1950Group 23–1Igoa, Basora, Zarra2–0Basora, Zarra1–0ZarraFinal round2–2Basora (2)1–6Igoa1–3Zarra 1962Group 30–11–0Peiró1–2Adelardo 1966Group 21–2Pirri2–1Sanchís, Amancio1–2Fusté 1978Group 31–2Dani0–01–0Asensi 1982Group 51–1López Ufarte2–1Juanito, Saura0–1Group B1–2Zamora0–0 1986Group D0–12–1Butragueño, Salinas3–0Calderé (2), EloyRound of 165–1Butragueño (4), A. GoikoetxeaQuarter-final1–1 Señor 1990Group E0–03–1Míchel (3)2–1Míchel, GórrizRound of 161–2 Salinas 1994Group C2–2Salinas, J.A. Goikoetxea1–1J.A. Goikoetxea3–1Guardiola, Caminero (2)Round of 163–0Hierro, Luis Enrique, BegiristainQuarter-final1–2Caminero 1998Group D2–3Hierro, Raúl0–06–1Hierro, Luis Enrique, Morientes (2), Bachev (o.g.), Kiko 2002Group B3–1Raúl, Valerón, Hierro3–1Morientes (2), Hierro3–2Raúl (2), MendietaRound of 161–1 MorientesQuarter-final0–0 2006Group H4–0Alonso, Villa (2), Fern. Torres3–1Raúl, Fern. Torres (2)1–0JuanitoRound of 161–3Villa 2010Group H0–12–0Villa (2)2–1Villa, IniestaRound of 161–0VillaQuarter-final1–0VillaSemi-final1–0PuyolFinal1–0 Iniesta 2014Group B1–5Alonso0–23–0Villa, Fern. Torres, Mata 2018Group B3–3Costa (2), Nacho1–0Costa2–2Isco, AspasRound of 161–1 Ignashevich (o.g.) 2022Group E7–0Olmo, Asensio, Ferr. Torres (2), Gavi, Soler, Morata1–1Morata1–2MorataRound of 160–0 2026Group H0–04–0Yamal, Oyarzabal (2), Al-Tambakti (o.g.)1–0BaenaRound of 323–0Oyarzabal (2), PorroRound of 161–0MerinoQuarter-final2–1Fabián, MerinoSemi-final2–0Oyarzabal, PorroFinal1–0 Ferr. Torres 2030TBDTBDv

By opponent FIFA World Cup matches (by opponent)OpponentPlayedWonDrawnLostGFGAGD 5 1 2 2 5 6 −1 5 1 1 3 5 10 −5 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 3 2 0 1 5 2 +3 3 2 1 0 5 3 +2 3 2 1 0 5 3 +2 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 3 1 2 0 5 3 +2 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1 3 0 1 2 2 4 −2 2 2 0 0 5 0 +5 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 2 1 1 0 1 0 +1 2 1 0 1 4 2 +2 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2 1 0 1 2 5 −3 1 1 0 0 7 0 +7 1 1 0 0 6 1 +5 1 1 0 0 5 1 +4 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 1 1 0 0 3 2 +1 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 3 −1 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1

2010 FIFA World Cup

The Spanish team went to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as European champions and enjoyed a record unbeaten streak of 35 matches from 2007 to 2009. Although they lost their first match 1–0 against Switzerland, they went on to win the group after victories over Honduras and Chile, while the Swiss failed to win another match and were eliminated.

The Spanish team won all three following knockout matches by a score of 1–0, always scoring in the second half of regular time. The opponents were Portugal, Paraguay and Germany.

2010 World Cup final v Netherlands

This was Spain's first and the Netherlands' third appearance in a World Cup final, but neither had ever won the trophy. Spain was the dominating side with 57% ball possession, but the Dutch opponents had several chances as well. In a rough match, referee Howard Webb showed fourteen yellow cards and sent off Dutch defender John Heitinga in the second half of extra time, after regular time ended goalless. However, even with the five yellow cards received in the final, the Spanish team was awarded the FIFA Fair Play Trophy after collecting only eight yellow cards in seven matches.

The winning goal was scored by Andrés Iniesta, a right foot strike from inside the box after an assist by Cesc Fàbregas.

2026 FIFA World Cup Just like in 2010, Spain entered the tournament as the current European champions, and were thus considered among the top favourites to win the cup. They began their campaign with a 0–0 draw against World Cup debutants Cape Verde. The result was considered a major World Cup upset and put doubts in the minds of many if Spain would be true contenders for the tournament. It also mirrored Spain's surprise 0–1 opening defeat against Switzerland in 2010. In their following match against Saudi Arabia, Spain were able to find their rhythm in a dominant 4–0 win. For their last group fixture, they faced former winners Uruguay; in a match that was marked by many fouls from the South Americans, Spain was able to come out with a 1–0 victory, ensuring they entered the knockout stage as group winners and eliminating Uruguay in the process.

In the newly-established round of 32, Spain would face off against Austria, where they cruised to a 3–0 victory. In the round of 16, Spain faced their Iberian rivals Portugal, in what was considered their toughest opponent yet. After a close first half, Spain managed to find the net in the dying moments of the game and win 1–0, advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010. Spain would then defeat Belgium 2–1 in the quarter-finals following another late winner, conceding a goal at the tournament for the first time. Spain's 2–0 win over second-ranked side France in the semi-finals saw them equal the historic record held by Italy of 37 consecutive matches unbeaten, and ensured Spain's progression to the World Cup final for only the second time in their history.

2026 World Cup final v Argentina

Spain faced defending champions Argentina in the final, the first competitive meeting between the two sides since the 1966 World Cup. Following a contest largely dominated by Spain and a red card shown to Argentina's Enzo Fernández, Spain finally broke the deadlock in the second half of extra time thanks to a goal from Ferran Torres. Just as in 2010, Spain would win the final 1–0 after extra time, becoming the first national team to hold the men's and women's World Cup titles simultaneously, as the Spanish women's team had won the 2023 title. They conceded only one goal across the eight matches they played at the tournament, and also overtook Italy as the sole holders of the longest undefeated streak in men's international football.

Most appearances

Iker Casillas captained Spain to their World Cup title in 2010 and won the Golden Glove award for best keeper at the same tournament.

RankPlayerMatchesWorld Cups1Iker Casillas172002, 2006, 2010 and 2014Sergio Ramos172006, 2010, 2014 and 2018Sergio Busquets172010, 2014, 2018 and 20224Andoni Zubizarreta161986, 1990, 1994 and 19985Xavi152002, 2006, 2010 and 20146Carles Puyol142002, 2006 and 2010Fernando Torres142006, 2010 and 2014Andrés Iniesta142006, 2010, 2014 and 20189Xabi Alonso132006, 2010 and 201410Julio Salinas121986, 1990 and 1994Fernando Hierro121994, 1998 and 2002Luis Enrique121994, 1998 and 2002David Villa122006, 2010 and 2014Gerard Piqué122010, 2014 and 2018Dani Olmo122022 and 2026Pedri122022 and 2026Rodri122022 and 2026Unai Simón122022 and 2026Ferran Torres122022 and 2026

Top goalscorers On 27 May 1934, José Iraragorri made history by scoring Spain's first-ever FIFA World Cup goal, coming in their opening match against Brazil in Genoa.

No Spanish player has ever won the Golden Boot, but Emilio Butragueño and Spain's record World Cup scorer David Villa have each won the Silver Boot after scoring five goals in 1986 and 2010, respectively.

RankPlayerGoalsWorld Cups1David Villa92006 (3), 2010 (5) and 2014 (1)2Emilio Butragueño51986Fernando Morientes51998 (2) and 2002 (3)Raúl51998 (1), 2002 (3) and 2006 (1)Fernando Hierro51994 (1), 1998 (2) and 2002 (2)Mikel Oyarzabal520267Estanislau Basora41950Telmo Zarra41950Míchel41990Fernando Torres42006 (3) and 2014 (1)11Julio Salinas31986, 1990 and 1994José Luis Caminero31994Diego Costa32018Álvaro Morata32022Ferran Torres32022 (2) and 2026 (1)-->

See also Spain at the FIFA Confederations Cup Spain at the UEFA European Championship

Footnotes

References

Reports

External links RFEF site FIFA Official Ranking of all Participants at Finals 1930–2002. FIFA Match Results for all Stages 1930–2002