Spain secured its place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, finishing an unbeaten qualifying campaign with a 2-2 draw against a determined Turkey side at the Estadio de La Cartuja. The result extends Spain’s unbeaten run to a national record of 31 consecutive matches.
While the point was enough for Spain to top Group E and confirm automatic qualification, Turkey’s spirited performance made them the first team to take points from the European champions during this campaign. Turkey finishes second and will advance to the play-offs.
Early Control and a Swift Opener
Spain, needing only to avoid a mathematically improbable seven-goal defeat, started with authority and took the lead in the fourth minute. Marc Cucurella’s cross found Dani Olmo in the area, and the RB Leipzig midfielder expertly created space before firing a sharp finish into the net.
The hosts continued to press, with Olmo twice testing Turkey’s goalkeeper from long range. Manchester United’s Altay Bayındır was equal to both efforts, tipping the powerful strikes over the bar to keep his side in the match.
Turkish Resilience Turns the Tide
Turkey grew into the game and leveled the score shortly before halftime. From an Orkun Kökçü corner, Deniz Gül reacted quickest to a knockdown in the box, flicking the ball home to become the first player to score against Spain in the entire qualifying cycle.
The visitors carried that momentum into the second half. Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón was forced into a pair of smart saves to preserve the stalemate before Turkey took a surprise lead. Salih Özcan received a lay-off from Kökçü on the edge of the area and rifled a precise, low shot into the corner.
Instant Response and a Denied Winner
Spain’s response was immediate. A shot from Yéremy Pino was heroically blocked on the line by Merih Demiral, but the rebound fell fortuitously to Mikel Oyarzabal, who tapped in from close range.
The Real Sociedad forward’s goal was his sixth of the qualifying campaign, strengthening his claim for a starting role. Spain pushed for a winner in the final stages, but Bayındır produced another fine save to deny Fermín López, who later saw a stoppage-time goal disallowed for offside.
The draw concludes a dominant qualifying run for Spain, who scored 21 goals and conceded only two. While the performance revealed areas for improvement, the primary objective of direct qualification was achieved. Turkey, meanwhile, will take significant confidence from their display as they prepare for the play-offs next March.