Founded in 1920, the Spain national football team has established itself as one of the most successful sides in international football, winning the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and securing three UEFA European Championships in 1964, 2008, and 2012. With legendary names from the past and emerging stars of today, Spain football is celebrated for its technical brilliance, quick passing, and unmatched tactical control. Today, the team stands as a symbol of excellence, resilience and creativity in the global game.
Over the decades, Spain has built a remarkable legacy with historic triumphs, including a World Cup, multiple European titles, and a UEFA Nations League crown in 2023. The current Spain national football team bring together experienced leaders and exciting young talent, each capable of delivering on the biggest stage. Guided by the tactical expertise of the Spain national football team coach, Luis de la Fuente, the side continues to aim for top honors in every competition. Read on to learn about latest Spain fixtures, squad updates, and achievements that define one of football’s most admired national teams.
Overview of the Spain national football team
| Official name | Spain national football team |
| Nickname(s) | La Roja (The Red One) |
| Association | Real Federación Española de Fútbol |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Spain national football team coach | Luis de la Fuente |
| Team captain | Álvaro Morata |
| Most appearances | Sergio Ramos (180) |
| Top goalscorer | David Villa (59 goals) |
| Home stadium | Bernabéu, Estadio La Cartuja, La Romareda Stadium and Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero |
History of the Spain national football team
The Spain national football team, nicknamed “La Roja,” has a rich history of both triumphs and challenges. Formed in 1920, they earned a silver medal at the Antwerp Olympics and recorded notable wins against England and Germany in the early years, though their progress was disrupted by the Spanish Civil War and World War II. Spain’s first major title came in 1964 when they won the European Nations’ Cup, and their “golden generation” later dominated world football, winning Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup, and Euro 2012. They have appeared in 15 World Cup finals, 11 European Championships, and share a 35-match unbeaten record with Brazil.
Home stadium
Spain’s football team has no single designated national stadium, instead playing home matches in different cities. Madrid, Seville, Valencia and Barcelona have each hosted more than 15 games and feature some of the country’s biggest arenas. Smaller stadiums in places such as León, Granada, Gijón and Alicante are also used for friendlies and qualifiers against less prominent teams.
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Spain national football team players 2025
| Position | Jersey number | Spain squad | Club |
| Goalkeeper s | 1 | David Raya | Arsenal |
| 13 | Álex Remiro | Real Sociedad | |
| 23 | Unai Simón | Athletic Bilbao | |
| Defenders | 2 | Pedro Porro | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 3 | Robin Le Normand | Atlético Madrid | |
| 4 | Pau Cubarsí | Barcelona | |
| 5 | Dani Vivian | Athletic Bilbao | |
| 12 | Dean Huijsen | Real Madrid | |
| 14 | Óscar Mingueza | Celta Vigo | |
| 17 | Álex Grimaldo | Bayer Leverkusen | |
| 24 | Marc Cucurella | Chelsea | |
| Midfielders | 6 | Mikel Merino | Arsenal |
| 8 | Fabián Ruiz | Paris Saint-Germain | |
| 9 | Pablo Martín Páez Gavira (Gavi) | Barcelona | |
| 10 | Dani Olmo | Barcelona | |
| 16 | Álex Baena | Atlético Madrid | |
| 18 | Martín Zubimendi | Arsenal | |
| 20 | Pedro González López(Pedri) | Barcelona | |
| 22 | Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez | Real Betis | |
| 25 | Fermín López | Barcelona | |
| Strikers | 7 | Álvaro Morata | Galatasaray |
| 11 | Nico Williams | Athletic Club | |
| 15 | Yeremy Pino | Villarreal | |
| 19 | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | |
| 21 | Mikel Oyarzabal | Real Sociedad | |
| 26 | Samu Aghehowa | Porto |
Individual records
Top 10 goal scorers
| Position | Spain Players | Goals scored | Appearances | Tenure |
| 1 | David Villa Sánchez | 59 | 98 | 2005 – 2017 |
| 2 | Raúl González Blanco | 44 | 102 | 1996–2006 |
| 3 | Fernando Torres | 38 | 110 | 2003–2014 |
| 4 | Álvaro Morata | 37 | 86 | 2014–present |
| 5 | David Silva | 35 | 125 | 2006–2018 |
| 6 | Fernando Hierro | 29 | 89 | 1989–2002 |
| 7 | Fernando Morientes | 27 | 47 | 1998–2007 |
| 8 | Emilio Butragueño | 26 | 69 | 1984–1992 |
| 9 | Alfredo Di Stéfano | 23 | 31 | 1984–1992 |
| 10 | Sergio Ramos | 23 | 179 | 2005–2021 |
Players with the most assists
| Player | Tenure | Appearances | Assists |
| Cesc Fabregas | 2006 – 2016 | 110 | 33 |
| David Silva | 2006 – 2018 | 125 | 29 |
| Andres Iniesta | 2006 – 2018 | 131 | 27 |
| Xavi | 2000 – 2014 | 133 | 27 |
Players with most appearances
| Position | Player | Appearances |
| 1 | Sergio Ramos | 180 |
| 2 | Iker Casillas | 167 |
| 3 | Sergio Busquets | 141 |
| 4 | Xavier Hernández Creus | 133 |
| 5 | Andrés Iniesta | 130 |
| 6 | Andoni Zubizarreta | 126 |
| 7 | David Silva | 125 |
| 8 | Xabi Alonso | 113 |
| 9 | Cesc Fàbregas | 110 |
| 10 | Fernando Torres | 110 |
Memorable tournament and rivalries
Spain vs Italy
Spain’s rivalry with Italy, known as the Mediterranean Derby, started at the 1920 Olympic Games with a 2–0 win for the Spaniards. Out of 41 meetings, Spain has 14 victories, 16 draws and 11 defeats, while competitive matches are evenly split with six wins each. The tension between the two nations grew after their Euro 2008 quarter-final clash and reached its peak when Spain beat Italy 4–0 in the Euro 2012 final. It remains a battle between two of Europe’s most successful and stylish football nations.
Spain vs Portugal
The Iberian Derby between Spain and Portugal began in 1921, when the Spain squad defeated their neighbors 3–1 in Portugal’s first-ever international game. Across more than 40 meetings, Spain had secured 17 wins, matched by 17 draws, and suffered just six losses, also maintaining a strong advantage in competitive clashes with five wins to Portugal’s one. Their latest encounter in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League final added another memorable chapter to this historic rivalry.
Spain vs France
Spain and France have been competing since 1922, when Spain earned a 4–0 victory in Bordeaux. In their 37 encounters, Spain leads overall with 17 wins, but France has edged competitive fixtures with six victories compared to Spain’s four. Their most famous showdown came in the Euro 1984 final, where France lifted their first major trophy. In recent decades, however, Spain has had the upper hand, winning 8 of their last 12 matches.
Spain vs England
The first meeting between Spain and England came in 1929, with Spain securing a historic 4–3 win — England’s first defeat outside the British Isles. From 28 matches, Spain has recorded 11 wins, 4 draws and 13 losses, with standout moments including the 1950 World Cup win and the Euro 2024 final triumph, which gave Spain a record fourth European crown. Memorable encounters such as the Euro 1996 quarter-final that England won on penalties have often been tense.
Spain vs Germany
The rivalry with Germany began in 1935 and has featured some of Spain’s most important tournament victories. Across 27 games, both teams have won 9 times, with 9 draws, but Spain has remained unbeaten in competitive fixtures since German reunification. Notable triumphs include the Euro 2008 final, the 2010 World Cup semi-final, and a remarkable 6–0 win in the 2020–21 Nations League. In Euro 2024, Spain again proved dominant, defeating the hosts 2–1 after extra time in the quarter-finals.
Spain vs Netherlands
Though relatively newer compared to other rivalries, Spain’s meetings with the Netherlands have been highly dramatic. Their first big clash came in the 1920 Olympic “final,” where Spain won 3–1, but the rivalry’s defining moment was the 2010 World Cup final, when Spain claimed their first world title. The Dutch responded in 2014 with a 5–1 group-stage victory which was Spain’s heaviest loss in decades. In 2025, the teams produced an impressive Nations League quarter-final that ended 5–5 before Spain triumphed in a penalty shootout.
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Latest results
| Spain matches | Results | Date played |
| Serbia vs Spain | 0 – 0 | Sep 5, 2024 |
| Switzerland vs Spain | 1 -4 | Sep 8, 2024 |
| Spain vs Denmark | 1 – 0 | Oct 12, 2024 |
| Spain vs Serbia | 3 – 0 | Oct 15, 2024 |
| Denmark vs Spain | 1 – 2 | Nov 15, 2024 |
| Spain vs Switzerland | 3 – 2 | Nov 18, 2024 |
| Netherlands vs Spain | 2 – 2 | March 20, 2025 |
| Spain vs Netherlands | 3(5) – 3(4) | March 23, 2025 |
| Spain vs France | 5 – 4 | June 5, 2025 |
| Portugal vs Spain | 2(5) – 2(3) | June 8, 2025 |
Team fixtures
| Spain fixtures | Date scheduled | time |
| Bulgaria vs Spain | Sep 4, 2025 | 21:45 |
| Turkiye vs Spain | Sep 7, 2025 | 21:45 |
| Spain vs Georgia | Oct 11, 2025 | 21:45 |
| Spain vs Bulgaria | Oct 14, 2025 | 21:45 |
| Georgia vs Spain | Nov 15, 2025 | 20:00 |
| Spain vs Turkiye | Nov 18, 2025 | 21:45 |
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World rankings
This table shows Spain’s standings on the group stages for the 2022 World Cup matches
| Clubs | Matches played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points |
| Group A | |||||
| Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Senegal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Ecuador | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Qatar | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Group B | |||||
| England | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| USA | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Iran | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Wales | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Group C | |||||
| Argentina | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Poland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Mexico | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Saudi Arabia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Group D | |||||
| France | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Australia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Tunisia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Denmark | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Group E | |||||
| Japan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Spain | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Germany | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Costa Rica | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Group F | |||||
| Morocco | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Croatia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Belgium | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Canada | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Group G | |||||
| Brazil | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Switzerland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Cameroon | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Serbia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Group H | |||||
| Portugal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| South Korea | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Uruguay | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Ghana | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Europe rankings
| Club | Matches played | Wins | Draws | losses | Points |
| Group A | |||||
| Germany | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Switzerland | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Hungary | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Scotland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Group B | |||||
| Spain | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Italy | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| croatia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Albania | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Group C | |||||
| England | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Denmark | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Slovenia | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Serbia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Group D | |||||
| Austria | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| France | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Netherland s | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Poland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Group E | |||||
| Romania | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Belgium | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Slovakia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Ukrain | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Group F | |||||
| Portugal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Turkiye | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Georgia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Czechia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Spain’s leadership
Coaching staff
| Position | Spain’s roster |
| Head coach | Luis de la Fuente |
| Assistant coach | Juanjo Gonzalez |
| Goalkeeping coach | Miguel Angel Espana |
| Fitness coach | Carlos Cruz |
Spain national football team’s style of play
The Spain football team is renowned for its tiki-taka style, a possession-driven game focused on short passes, fluid movement and smart positional rotation. This approach enables Spain to dominate the ball and dictate the pace, staying solid in both attack and defense without constantly shifting roles. From 2008 to 2024, they held more possession than their opponents in 136 consecutive matches, using skill, patience and accuracy to unlock defenses. This playing style fueled their triumphs at Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012 and Euro 2024, securing their place among football’s all-time greats.
Major competitive records
Appearance at the FIFA World Cup
Spain has participated in 16 of the 22 FIFA World Cup editions since its first appearance in
1934. Their biggest achievement came in 2010, when they became world champions after a 1–0 victory against the Netherlands in the final. Before that, their highest finish was fourth place in 1950. Overall, they have played 67 World Cup matches, winning 31 and scoring 108 goals.
UEFA European Championship
Spain is the most successful team in the history of the UEFA European Championship, having won the title four times, in 1964, 2008, 2012, and 2024. They are also the only team to win back-to-back Euros and the first to win all seven games in a single edition, which they accomplished in 2024. Spain’s national football team has played in 12 of the 17 tournaments and reached the final on five occasions.
UEFA Nations League
Since the start of the UEFA Nations League, Spain has remained in the top division (League A) and reached the final in three straight editions from 2021 to 2025. They won their first title in 2023 after beating Croatia on penalties. In the 2025 final, they played against Portugal but were defeated in another penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw.
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
Following their Euro 2024 win, Spain qualified for their first-ever appearance in the
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions. They are set to face Argentina, who won Copa América 2024.
FIFA Confederation Cup
Spain has featured twice in the FIFA Confederations Cup. In 2009, they finished third after losing to the USA in the semi-finals. In 2013, they reached the final but were defeated 3–0 by Brazil. Across both tournaments, they played 10 matches, won 7, and scored 26 goals.
Olympic games
Spain first competed in Olympic football in 1920, where they won a silver medal. They’ve participated in four tournaments at the senior level, with their best showing coming in that debut year. Since 1992, they have competed through their under-23 team, in line with Olympic football rules.
Achievements and honours
| Category | Titles | Season |
| FIFA World Cup | Champions (1) | 2010 |
| UEFA European championships | Champions (4) | 1964, 2008, 2012, 2024 |
| Runners up(1) | 1984 | |
| UEFA Nations league | Champions (1) | 2023 |
| Runners-up (2) | 2021, 2025 | |
| FIFA Confederation Cup | Runners up (1) | 2013 |
| Third place (1) | 2009 | |
| Olympics medal | Silver medal(1) | 1920 |
| Awards | ||
| FIFA Team of the Year | 6 | 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| Laureus World Team of the Year | 1 | 2011 |
| World Soccer Team of the Year | 4 | 2008, 2010, 2012, 2024 |
| Gazzetta Sports World Team of the Year | 2 | 2010, 2012 |
| Prince of Asturias Award for Sports | 1 | 2010 |
| FIFA World Cup Fair Play Trophy | 3 | 2006, 2010, 2018 |
| FIFA Confederations Cup Fair Play Award | 1 | 2013 |
Latest transfer news and rumours
Spanish top-flight sides are making bold moves ahead of the new season. Villarreal have secured midfielder Thomas Partey on a one-year deal following his release from Arsenal, while Real Betis bolstered their midfield by signing Colombian coffee talent Nelson Deossa on a contract through 2030. Atletico Madrid are advancing with a deal for Napoli forward Giacomo Raspadori, aiming to finalize their attacking roster for 2025–26. Meanwhile, Barcelona have added Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United, with a €30 million option to buy in the summer of 2026.
FAQs about the Spain national football team
Who is Spain number 10?
Lamine Yamal is Spain’s current number 10, taking over from the injured Dani Olmo, according to BeSoccer.
Who is Spain’s top goal scorer?
David Villa is Spain’s all-time top goal scorer with 59 goals.
What is the nickname of Spain’s football team?
Spain’s football team is nicknamed “La Roja,” meaning “The Red,” and was historically called
“La Furia Española” or “The Spanish Fury.”
Who is the most famous Spain football player?
Andres Iniesta, the legendary midfielder who starred for Barcelona, Vissel Kobe, and Emirates Club, is considered the most famous Spanish football player of all time.
Conclusion
With a history of triumphs and a future full of promise, the Spain national football team remains a benchmark for excellence in the sport. The blend of experienced leaders and fresh talent in the Spain squad ensures they are always ready to compete at the highest level. Upcoming Spain matches will be another test of their ambition, determination, and skill. No matter the stage, the team continues to captivate fans and shape the story of world football.
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