Spain opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a commanding 3–0 victory over Bulgaria at the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia.
The reigning European champions wasted no time asserting their dominance, scoring all three goals in the first half.
Just five minutes into the match, Mikel Oyarzabal found the net with a composed finish after a perfectly threaded pass from Martin Zubimendi. The goal marked Oyarzabal’s fifth in his last six international appearances.
Marc Cucurella doubled the lead in the 30th minute with a thunderous strike—his first international goal—that left Bulgarian goalkeeper Svetoslav Vutsov frozen. Eight minutes later, Lamine Yamal delivered a teasing corner that Mikel Merino met with a precise header, sealing a 3–0 halftime lead.
Youthful Spark and Tactical Mastery
Spain’s performance was a showcase of both flair and structure. Lamine Yamal dazzled on the wings, creating two chances (tied for most in the match), winning 11 duels, and leading in both dribbles and duels won.
Spain registered 24 shots—12 on target—and posted an impressive 3.33 expected goals (xG), compared to Bulgaria’s meager 0.1 xG.
The second half saw fewer clear-cut chances, but Spain continued to dominate possession. Vutsov remained active, making several key saves to prevent further damage.
Luis de la Fuente’s squad blended youth and experience seamlessly. Centre-back Dean Huijsen stood out with 94% pass accuracy, four clearances, and three recoveries. Veteran Dani Carvajal made a composed return from injury, coming off the bench in the second half.
However, concern arose when Yamal exited in the 78th minute clutching his lower back, shortly after assisting Merino’s goal. Spain will hope the injury is minor ahead of their next fixture.
🏆 Group E Standings and What’s Next
Spain now lead Group E with three points and a strong goal difference. Their next match is a high-stakes away fixture against Turkey, while Bulgaria will host Georgia in search of redemption.
Spain’s unbeaten run under Luis de la Fuente now stretches to 21 matches (W16 D5), surpassing Julen Lopetegui’s 2018 streak and inching closer to Vicente del Bosque’s record of 26 games between 2011 and 2013.
Dean Huijsen for Spain vs Bulgaria ☠️
— 𝐍𝐢𝐤𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐬🏖️ (@NikolasRMFC) September 5, 2025
€50million for this beast to Real Madrid was a generational steal pic.twitter.com/bZWB9pVRwZ
“We’re happy, but we have to keep taking steps forward,” said de la Fuente after the match. “[Turkey] will be a higher-level game and more demanding … we have to look to be better every day.”
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