HIGHLIGHTS: Spain seal qualification to World Cup against Turkiye as unbeaten run is extended | OneFootball

Spain 2-2 Turkiye

Spain ensured they would be at the 2026 World Cup, at least in terms of numerical certainty, with something of an anticlimactic draw against Turkiye at La Cartuja. Finishing in a draw, it did maintain La Roja’s unbeaten run.

The match started off well for Spain, with Dani Olmo parting from the left, and scoring the first goal of the game just four minutes in, showing neat footwork inside the box to finish from close range following a Marc Cucurella ball. He was one of the standouts for Spain early on, with Luis de la Fuente testing out his candidacy for the squad alongside that of Yeremy Pino and Aleix Garcia in midfield.

They contributed to a controlling performance in the first half in which Mikel Oyarzabal could not convert a one-on-one, and Altay Bayindir was forced into several good saves. This was not much of a worry for de la Fuente, until just before the break, when a corner was flicked on and Deniz Gul headed in for the equaliser.

Spain fall short of completing comeback

Turkiye, spurred on by their goal, began to come into the game more after the half. In the 54th minute, Turkiye turned it around, with a ball to the edge of the box smacked back into the far corner by Salih Ozcan. Now rocking somewhat, Baris Yilmaz forced a strong save from Unai Simon, and also had a stunning overhead kick effort turned over by the Athletic Club number one.

However Spain did react, and so did de la Fuente, with Alex Baena, Fermin Lopez and Samu Aghehowa all sent on. Before Mikel Oyarzabal came off though, he came up with the equaliser, making it nine straight games in which he has scored for the national team. Another Cucurella ball across caused havoc, and after Ferran Torres’ effort was cleared off the line, Oyarzabal knocked the ball home.

In the final 15 minutes, Spain did apply pressure again, forcing several more saves from Bayindir, with Fermin and Baena rousing La Roja. It looked as if it had worked in the closing seconds when Fermin finished a loose ball in the box, only to find out that he was offside.

Image via Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images

In front of just 30,000 fans at La Cartuja, Spain will feel they had the chances to win the match, but the line many are taking is that this will serve de la Fuente to warn his players about the dangers of complacency. After originally controlling the early going, Turkiye were allowed a foothold in the game. Nevertheless, Spain are now a record 31 games unbeaten under de la Fuente, and will be be seeded in pot one for the 2026 World Cup.