Spain Qualifies for World Cup Despite Stubborn Turkey Fightback
Spain secured its place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, though the celebration was tempered by a frustrating 2-2 draw with a determined Turkey. The result extends Spain’s unbeaten run in competitive matches to 31 games, equaling a record set by Italy, but the performance was far from straightforward for the world’s top-ranked team.
Needing only a point to mathematically confirm their qualification, Spain was expected to dominate but instead faced a spirited challenge from a Turkish side that rallied from a goal down to briefly lead the match.
Fast Start for La Roja
Spain began brightly and took an early lead in the fourth minute. A cross from Marc Cucurella found its way to Dani Olmo, who displayed quick footwork in a crowded penalty area before firing a close-range shot into the net.
The home side continued to press, with Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayındır forced to parry two powerful long-range efforts from Olmo. For a while, it seemed a matter of time before Spain would extend their advantage.
Turkey’s Defiant Response
Against the run of play, Turkey found an equalizer. From an Orkun Kökçü corner, defender Deniz Gül capitalized on a static Spanish defense to score his first international goal with a sharp finish.
The goal galvanized the visitors, who carried that momentum into the second half. Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón was called into action to push a spectacular bicycle-kick attempt from Barış Alper Yılmaz over the crossbar.
Turkey’s pressure paid off when they took a surprise lead. Midfielder Salih Özcan drilled a superb right-footed shot from outside the box, also netting his maiden goal for his country.
Late Scramble and Secured Qualification
Turkey’s lead lasted only eight minutes. A shot from Yéremy Pino was cleared off the line by Merih Demiral, but the rebound fell directly to Mikel Oyarzabal, who tapped in from point-blank range to level the score.
Turkey continued to threaten, and Spain relied on another fine save from Simón to deny Yılmaz. While Spain pushed for a winner, a late goal from Fermín López was disallowed for offside, leaving the points shared.
The draw confirms Spain’s qualification for a 13th consecutive World Cup, a significant milestone for manager Luis de la Fuente. For Turkey, the performance against the European champions will provide considerable confidence as they prepare for the World Cup play-offs in March.