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Spain national football team facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Spain women's national football team.
Quick facts for kids
Spain
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) La Roja (The Red One)
Association Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF)
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Luis de la Fuente
Captain Álvaro Morata
Most caps Sergio Ramos (180)
Top scorer David Villa (59)
Home stadium Various
FIFA code ESP
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 9 Steady (7 February 2019)
Highest 1 (July 2008 – June 2009, October 2009 – March 2010, July 2010 – July 2011, October 2011 – July 2014)
Lowest 25 (March 1998)
Elo ranking
Current 2 Increase 3 (3 March 2019)
Highest 1 (September 1920 – May 1924, September – December 1925, June 2008 – June 2009, July 2010 – June 2013)
Lowest 19 (June–October 1969, November 1991)
First international
 Spain 1–0 Denmark 
(Forest, Belgium; 28 August 1920)
Biggest win
 Spain 13–0 Bulgaria 
(Madrid, Spain; 22 August 1933)
Biggest defeat
 Italy 7–1 Spain 
(Amsterdam, Netherlands; 4 June 1928)
 England 7–1 Spain 
(London, England; 9 December 1931)
World Cup
Appearances 16 (first in 1934)
Best result Champions (2010)
European Championship
Appearances 12 (first in 1964)
Best result Champions (1964, 2008, 2012, 2024)
Nations League Finals
Appearances 3 (first in 2021)
Best result Champions (2023)
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
Appearances 1 (first in 2026)
Best result Debut (2026)
Confederations Cup
Appearances 2 (first in 2009)
Best result Runners-up (2013)
Medal record
Men's football
FIFA World Cup
Gold 2010 South Africa Team
UEFA European Championship
Gold 1964 Spain Team
Gold 2008 Austria–Switzerland Team
Gold 2012 Poland–Ukraine Team
Gold 2024 Germany Team
Silver 1984 France Team
Bronze 2020 Europa (s.f.) Team
UEFA Nations League
Gold 2023 Netherlands Team
Silver 2021 Italy Team
Silver 2025 Germany Team
FIFA Confederations Cup
Silver 2013 Brazil Team
Bronze 2009 South Africa Team
Olympic Games
Silver 1920 Antwerp Team

The Spain national football team (Spanish: Selección Española de Fútbol) represents Spain in men's international football games. It is managed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, which is the main football group in Spain.

Spain is one of only eight teams to have won the World Cup. They have played in 16 out of 22 FIFA World Cups. Spain won the World Cup in 2010. They have also played in 12 out of 17 European Championships. Spain is the current European champion, winning their fourth title in 2024.

After winning the 2023 UEFA Nations League, Spain became the second team, after France, to win three big titles: the World Cup, the European Championship, and the Nations League. Spain is also one of only two countries, along with Germany, to have won both the men's and women's World Cups.

Spain is the most successful European team of the 21st century. They have won one World Cup, one Nations League, and three European Championships since 2008. Many experts think the Spanish teams from 2008 to 2012 were some of the best ever. During this time, Spain was the first team to win three major titles in a row. This included two European Championships in 2008 and 2012. They were also the first European team to win a World Cup held outside Europe. From 2008 to 2013, Spain was named the FIFA Team of the Year many times. Only Brazil has won this award more often. From 2007 to 2009, Spain went 35 games without losing. This was a record for football at that time.

Spain's Football Journey: A Look at Their History

See also: History of the Spain national football team
Spain national football team in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp
Spain national football team at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp.

Spain joined FIFA when it started in 1904. The Spanish Football Federation was created in 1909. The first Spanish national football team was formed in 1920. Their goal was to play in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Belgium. Spain played their first game on August 28, 1920, against Denmark. They won 1–0 and ended up winning the silver medal.

Spain played in their first FIFA World Cup in 1934. They beat Brazil in their first game. They lost to the host team, Italy, in the quarter-finals. The Spanish Civil War and World War II stopped Spain from playing many games. They did not play competitive matches between the 1934 World Cup and the 1950 World Cup qualifiers. In the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, Spain finished fourth. This was Spain's best World Cup result until 2010.

Spain won their first big international title in 1964. They hosted the 1964 European Nations' Cup and beat the Soviet Union 2–1 in the final. This win was Spain's only major title for 44 years. Spain hosted the 1982 FIFA World Cup in 1982. They reached the second round. Four years later, in 1986, they reached the quarter-finals. They lost to Belgium in a penalty shootout. At UEFA Euro 1984, they lost the final to France. Spain reached the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup. In the 2002 World Cup, Spain won all their group games. They beat the Republic of Ireland on penalties in the next round. They lost to co-hosts South Korea in a shootout. Two of Spain's goals were unfairly disallowed in that game.

World Cup celebration - 2
World Cup champions parade in Madrid.

At UEFA Euro 2008, Spain won all their games in the group stage. They beat Italy 4–2 on penalties in the quarter-finals. Then, they beat Russia 3–0 in the semi-finals. In the final, Spain beat Germany 1–0. Fernando Torres scored the only goal. This was Spain's first major title since 1964. Xavi was named the best player of the tournament. The next year, Spain finished third at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. This ended their 35-match unbeaten streak.

In the 2010 World Cup, Spain reached the final for the first time. They beat Germany 1–0. In the final against the Netherlands, Andrés Iniesta scored the winning goal in extra time. Spain became the third team to win a World Cup outside their own continent. They were the first European team to do so. They then qualified for UEFA Euro 2012, winning all their games. They became the first team to win the European Championship twice in a row. They won the final 4–0 against Italy. Fernando Torres was the top scorer.

Spain reached the final of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. They lost to hosts Brazil. The next year, they were out of the 2014 World Cup after the group stage. At Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, Spain reached the last 16. They lost to Italy 2–0 and Russia 4–3 on penalties. In UEFA Euro 2020, held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Spain reached the semi-finals. They lost to Italy 4–2 on penalties. They reached the 2021 UEFA Nations League final the same year, losing to France. In the 2022 World Cup, Spain lost to Morocco 3–0 on penalties in the round of 16. This was their third loss in a major tournament by penalty shootout.

Spain won their group in UEFA Euro 2024 without letting in any goals. They beat Georgia 4–1 in the round of 16. They then beat hosts Germany 2–1 in the quarter-finals. They defeated France 2–1 in the semi-finals. Spain won their fourth European title by beating England 2–1 in the final. They became the first team to win all seven matches in a single European Championship. They also scored a record 15 goals in one tournament.

Spain continued their success in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League. They reached the finals again. They beat the Netherlands and then France in the semi-finals. This was their second Nations League final in a row. Spain has gone 23 official matches without losing. Their last loss was against Scotland in March 2023.

Team Identity: Nicknames, Style, and Kits

Team Nicknames

In the past, Spain's team was called "La furia española", meaning the Spanish Fury. This name came from a Dutch newspaper. It reminded people of a historical event called the "Sack of Antwerp". Today, the team is more often called "La roja", which means the Red (squad).

How Spain Plays Football

Spain Euro 08 celebration 3
Spain, UEFA Euro 2008 winners.
2010 FIFA World Cup Spain with cup
Spain's players celebrate winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Spain national football team Euro 2012 trophy 02
Spain, UEFA Euro 2012 winners.

Between 2008 and 2012, the team played a special style of football called 'tiki-taka'. This style focuses on teamwork and understanding how to use space on the field.

Tiki-taka means moving the ball with short passes and lots of player movement. It's about carefully moving the ball through different areas of the field. It's also about keeping the ball and being patient. Players move around and swap positions, passing the ball quickly with one or two touches. Tiki-taka is good for both defense and attack. Because the team always has the ball, they don't need to switch between defending and attacking.

Spain used tiki-taka to win Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup, and Euro 2012. The teams from 2008–2012 are seen as some of the greatest international teams ever.

They have the Barcelona "carousel" of Xavi and Andrés Iniesta augmented by Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso in midfield.

Luis Aragonés helped Spain win Euro 2008 by mixing tiki-taka with practical play. He used tiki-taka to protect the defense and control games. Spain's first six goals in that tournament were not from tiki-taka. They came from quick attacks or set plays. For Sid Lowe, Spain's 2010 World Cup win showed two styles coming together. One was the strong, direct style of the 1920 Olympic team, called La furia española. The other was the modern tiki-taka style, which focuses on short passes and keeping the ball.

Raphael Honigstein described Spain's tiki-taka in the 2010 World Cup semi-final as a very difficult but effective style. It combined passing with strong pressing. He saw it as an improved version of the Netherlands' Total Football. Tiki-taka allowed Spain to control both the ball and their opponents.

Celebrando la cuarta Eurocopa de la selección española. Madrid, 15 de julio de 2024
Spain, UEFA Euro 2024 winners.

Spain kept the ball more than their opponents in all matches from 2008 to 2024. This is a record of 136 games.

We have the same idea as each other. Keep the ball, create movement around and off the ball, get in the spaces to cause danger.

Team Kits and Crest

Spain's home kit is usually a red jersey with yellow details. They wear dark blue shorts and black socks. Their current away kit is mostly yellow, but it used to be white. The color of the home socks has changed over the years. They were black, then blue or red, and now often black again.

Adidas has made Spain's kits since 1991. Before that, Le Coq Sportif made them from 1984 to 1990. From 1981 to 1983, Adidas also made them. Spain's jersey shows the country's coat of arms on the left side. After winning the 2010 World Cup, a World Cup winners badge was added to the right side. A golden star was also added above Spain's coat of arms.

Kit Suppliers

Kit supplier Period Notes
None 1920–1935
Spain/Spain Deportes Cóndor 1935–1966
1967–1981
England Umbro 1966
West Germany/Germany Adidas 1981–1983
1991–present		 Current until 2030
France Le Coq Sportif 1984–1990

Home Stadiums

Main article: List of stadiums in Spain

Spain does not have one main national stadium. They play games in different cities. The cities of Madrid (Bernabéu and Metropolitano), Seville (Pizjuán, Villamarín and La Cartuja), Valencia (Mestalla and Orriols), and Barcelona (Camp Nou and Montjuïc) have hosted many national team matches. These cities also have the biggest stadiums in Spain.

Other friendly games and qualifying matches against smaller teams are played in smaller stadiums. For example, the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification games were played in places like León, Granada, Gijón, and Alicante.

Media Coverage

Spain's UEFA Nations League, European Qualifiers, and all friendly matches are shown on TV. They are broadcast nationwide by La 1, which is the main channel of the public broadcaster TVE.

Spain's Football Rivals

Spain has rivalries with five countries they have played against the most. These include the other four "Europe's Big Five" nations and their neighbor, Portugal. In order of most matches played, these rivals are Italy (41 games), Portugal (40), France (37), England (28), and Germany (27).

  • Their rivalry with Italy is sometimes called the "Mediterranean Derby." They first played in 1920 at the Olympic Games. Spain won 2–0. Even though they are not direct neighbors, their rivalry is strong because their club teams do well in UEFA competitions. Since their quarter-final match at Euro 2008, the rivalry has grown. The most famous game was the UEFA Euro 2012 final, which Spain won 4–0. Spain has won 14 games, drawn 16, and lost 11 out of 41 matches. In competitive games, both teams have won 6 times.
  • Their rivalry with Portugal is known as the "Iberian Derby." They first played in 1921, with Spain winning 3–1. This was Portugal's first international game. Portugal lost their first few matches. Their first draw was in 1926, and their first win was in 1947. Spain has a better record in this friendly rivalry. They have 17 wins, 17 draws, and 6 losses in 40 games. In competitive matches, Spain has 5 wins, Portugal has 1, and they have drawn 5 times. They will play each other in a final for the first time in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League.
  • Their rivalry with France is sometimes called the "Pyrenean Derby." They first played in 1922, with Spain winning 4–0. Their first competitive game was the UEFA Euro 1984 final, which France won. Spain has won 17 games, drawn 7, and lost 13 out of 37 matches. France has a small lead in competitive matches, with 6 wins to Spain's 4. However, Spain has won 8 out of 12 matches against France in the 21st century.
  • Their rivalry with England started in 1929. Spain won their first game 4–3. This was England's first loss outside the British Isles. Their first World Cup game was in the 1950 World Cup. Spain won 1–0 with a famous goal by Telmo Zarra. In the 1982 World Cup, Spain hosted England, and the game ended 0–0. In 1981, Spain won at Wembley for the first time. They have met three times in the European Championship. In 1980, England won 2–1. In 1996, they drew 0–0, and England won on penalties. In the UEFA Euro 2024 final, Spain won 2–1. Spain has 11 wins, 4 draws, and 13 losses in 28 games against England.
  • Their rivalry with Germany started in 1935. Spain won their first game 2–1. Spain first played a German team in a competitive match in the 1966 World Cup. West Germany won 2–1. Since Germany reunited in 1990, Spain has not lost to Germany in competitive games. Spain won the UEFA Euro 2008 final 1–0. They won the 2010 World Cup semi-final 1–0. They won 6–0 in the 2020–21 Nations League. Most recently, they won 2–1 in extra time in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. The overall record is tied with 9 wins each and 9 draws in 27 games.
  • Their rivalry with Netherlands has grown recently. Their first important game was the "final" of the 1920 Summer Olympics. Spain beat the Dutch 3–1 to win their first trophy. They met again 90 years later in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Spain won their first World Cup in a tough game. Four years later, in the 2014 World Cup group stage, the Netherlands beat Spain 5–1. This was Spain's biggest loss in 60 years. Their next competitive game was in the 2025 Nations League quarter-finals. The game ended in a 5–5 draw. Spain won the penalty shootout and knocked the Dutch out of the tournament.

Recent Games and Future Matches

For all past match results of the national team, see single-season articles, and Spain national football team results.
Further information: 2023–24 in Spanish football and 2024–25 in Spanish football

Here are Spain's match results from the last year and upcoming games.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2024 Matches

2025 Matches

2026 Matches

Coaching Staff

Main article: List of Spain national football team managers
Role Name
Head coach Spain Luis de la Fuente
Assistant coach Spain Pablo Amo
Goalkeeping coach Spain Miguel Ángel España
Fitness coach Spain Carlos Cruz
Data analysts Spain Geri Peica
Spain Juanjo González
Psychologist Spain Joaquín Valdés
Video analyst Spain Pablo Peña
Doctor Spain Juan José García Cota
Physiotherapists Spain Lorenzo del Pozo
Spain Raúl Martínez
Spain Miguel Gutiérrez
Spain Juan Carlos Herranz
Spain Fernando Galán del Río
Kit Man Spain Joaquín Retamosa
Spain José Damián García
Spain Antonio Guerra
Sporting director Spain
Team manager Spain Nuria Martínez Navas
Delegate Spain

Players on the Team

Main article: List of Spain international footballers

Current Squad

These players were chosen for the 2025 UEFA Nations League Finals.

Caps (games played) and goals are updated as of June 8, 2025, after the match against Portugal.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK David Raya (1995-09-15) 15 September 1995 (age 29) 11 0 England Arsenal
13 1GK Álex Remiro (1995-03-24) 24 March 1995 (age 30) 2 0 Spain Real Sociedad
23 1GK Unai Simón (vice-captain) (1997-06-11) 11 June 1997 (age 28) 50 0 Spain Athletic Bilbao
2 2DF Pedro Porro (1999-09-13) 13 September 1999 (age 25) 10 0 England Tottenham Hotspur
3 2DF Robin Le Normand (1996-11-11) 11 November 1996 (age 28) 23 1 Spain Atlético Madrid
4 2DF Pau Cubarsí (2007-01-22) 22 January 2007 (age 18) 6 0 Spain Barcelona
5 2DF Dani Vivian (1999-07-05) 5 July 1999 (age 25) 9 0 Spain Athletic Bilbao
12 2DF Dean Huijsen (2005-04-14) 14 April 2005 (age 20) 4 0 Spain Real Madrid
14 2DF Óscar Mingueza (1999-05-13) 13 May 1999 (age 26) 4 0 Spain Celta Vigo
17 2DF Álex Grimaldo (1995-09-20) 20 September 1995 (age 29) 10 0 Germany Bayer Leverkusen
24 2DF Marc Cucurella (1998-07-22) 22 July 1998 (age 26) 17 0 England Chelsea
6 3MF Mikel Merino (1996-06-22) 22 June 1996 (age 28) 35 4 England Arsenal
8 3MF Fabián Ruiz (1996-04-03) 3 April 1996 (age 29) 39 6 France Paris Saint-Germain
9 3MF Gavi (2004-08-05) 5 August 2004 (age 20) 28 5 Spain Barcelona
10 3MF Dani Olmo (1998-05-07) 7 May 1998 (age 27) 44 11 Spain Barcelona
16 3MF Álex Baena (2001-07-20) 20 July 2001 (age 23) 10 2 Spain Villarreal
18 3MF Martín Zubimendi (1999-02-02) 2 February 1999 (age 26) 19 2 Spain Real Sociedad
20 3MF Pedri (2002-11-25) 25 November 2002 (age 22) 34 3 Spain Barcelona
22 3MF Isco (1992-04-21) 21 April 1992 (age 33) 39 12 Spain Real Betis
25 3MF Fermín López (2003-05-11) 11 May 2003 (age 22) 2 0 Spain Barcelona
7 4FW Álvaro Morata (captain) (1992-10-23) 23 October 1992 (age 32) 86 37 Turkey Galatasaray
11 4FW Nico Williams (2002-07-12) 12 July 2002 (age 22) 28 6 Spain Athletic Bilbao
15 4FW Yeremy Pino (2002-10-20) 20 October 2002 (age 22) 15 3 Spain Villarreal
19 4FW Lamine Yamal (2007-07-13) 13 July 2007 (age 17) 21 6 Spain Barcelona
21 4FW Mikel Oyarzabal (1997-04-21) 21 April 1997 (age 28) 45 16 Spain Real Sociedad
26 4FW Samu Aghehowa (2004-05-05) 5 May 2004 (age 21) 2 0 Portugal Porto

Recent Call-ups

These players have also been called up for the team in the last twelve months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Robert Sánchez (1997-11-18) 18 November 1997 (age 27) 3 0 England Chelsea v.  Switzerland, 18 November 2024
DF Raúl Asencio (2003-02-13) 13 February 2003 (age 22) 0 0 Spain Real Madrid v.  Netherlands, 23 March 2025
DF Iñigo Martínez (1991-05-17) 17 May 1991 (age 34) 21 1 Spain Barcelona v.  Netherlands, 20 March 2025 INJ
DF Aymeric Laporte (1994-05-27) 27 May 1994 (age 31) 40 2 Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr v.  Switzerland, 18 November 2024
DF Aitor Paredes (2000-04-29) 29 April 2000 (age 25) 1 0 Spain Athletic Bilbao v.  Switzerland, 18 November 2024
DF Pau Torres (1997-01-16) 16 January 1997 (age 28) 24 1 England Aston Villa v.  Denmark, 15 November 2024 INJ
DF Dani Carvajal (1992-01-11) 11 January 1992 (age 33) 51 1 Spain Real Madrid v.  Denmark, 12 October 2024 INJ
MF Aleix García (1997-06-28) 28 June 1997 (age 27) 5 0 Germany Bayer Leverkusen v.  Netherlands, 23 March 2025
MF Marc Casadó (2003-09-14) 14 September 2003 (age 21) 2 0 Spain Barcelona v.  Netherlands, 20 March 2025 INJ
MF Pablo Barrios (2003-06-15) 15 June 2003 (age 22) 1 0 Spain Atlético Madrid v.  Switzerland, 18 November 2024
MF Rodri (1996-06-22) 22 June 1996 (age 28) 57 4 England Manchester City v.  Switzerland, 8 September 2024 INJ
MF Pepelu (1998-08-11) 11 August 1998 (age 26) 0 0 Spain Valencia v.  Switzerland, 8 September 2024
FW Ferran Torres (2000-02-29) 29 February 2000 (age 25) 49 21 Spain Barcelona v.  Netherlands, 20 March 2025 INJ
FW Ayoze Pérez (1993-07-29) 29 July 1993 (age 31) 5 2 Spain Villarreal v.  Netherlands, 20 March 2025 INJ
FW Bryan Zaragoza (2001-09-09) 9 September 2001 (age 23) 3 1 Spain Osasuna v.  Netherlands, 20 March 2025 INJ
FW Bryan Gil (2001-02-11) 11 February 2001 (age 24) 5 1 Spain Girona v.  Switzerland, 18 November 2024
FW Joselu (1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 (age 35) 17 6 Qatar Al-Gharafa v.  Serbia, 15 October 2024

INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury
PRE Preliminary squad / standby
WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue
RET Player retired from the national team
SUS Player is serving suspension

Player Records and Achievements

Main articles: List of Spain international footballers and Spain national football team records and statistics

Sergio Ramos has played the most games for Spain, with 180 appearances. Iker Casillas is second with 167 games, followed by Sergio Busquets with 143.

David Villa is Spain's top goalscorer. He scored 59 goals in 98 games between 2005 and 2017. Raúl González is the second highest goalscorer, with 44 goals in 102 games.

Most Games Played for Spain

Sergio Ramos Euro 2012 vs France 01
Sergio Ramos holds the record for the most games played for Spain, with 180 appearances.

Here are the top ten players with the most games (caps) for Spain, as of June 8, 2025.

Players in bold are still playing for Spain.
Rank Player Caps Goals Period
1 Sergio Ramos 180 23 2005–2021
2 Iker Casillas 167 0 2000–2016
3 Sergio Busquets 141 2 2009–2022
4 Xavi 133 13 2000–2014
5 Andrés Iniesta 130 13 2006–2018
6 Andoni Zubizarreta 126 0 1985–1998
7 David Silva 125 35 2006–2018
8 Xabi Alonso 113 16 2003–2014
9 Cesc Fàbregas 110 15 2006–2016
Fernando Torres 110 38 2003–2014

Youngest Player to Play a Game

Oldest Player to Play a Game

Top Goalscorers for Spain

Spain-Tahiti, Confederations Cup 2013 (02) (Villa crop)
David Villa is Spain's top scorer with 59 goals.

Here are the top ten goalscorers for Spain, as of June 8, 2025.

Rank Player Goals Caps Average Period
1 David Villa (list) 59 98 0.6 2005–2017
2 Raúl (list) 44 102 0.43 1996–2006
3 Fernando Torres (list) 38 110 0.35 2003–2014
4 Álvaro Morata 37 86 0.43 2014–present
5 David Silva 35 125 0.28 2006–2018
6 Fernando Hierro 29 89 0.33 1989–2002
7 Fernando Morientes 27 47 0.57 1998–2007
8 Emilio Butragueño 26 69 0.38 1984–1992
9 Alfredo Di Stéfano (list) 23 31 0.74 1957–1961
Sergio Ramos 23 179 0.13 2005–2021

Youngest Goalscorer

Oldest Goalscorer

  • Aritz Aduriz (35 years and 274 days) vs.  Macedonia, November 12, 2016

Most Goals in One Match

  • Chacho (6 goals) vs.  Bulgaria, May 13, 1933

First Goal Scored

  • Juan Arzuaga vs.  France, May 25, 1913 (unofficial game)
  • Patricio Arabolaza vs.  Denmark, August 28, 1920 (official game)

Team Captains in Major Tournaments

Main article: List of Spain national football team captains

Here are the captains for Spain in major tournaments:

Team Records and Achievements

Main article: Spain national football team records and statistics
  • Most consecutive wins (including friendly games): 15 (from 2008–2009)
  • Most consecutive wins by a new international coach: 13 – Vicente del Bosque
  • Most penalty shoot-outs in one World Cup by one team: 2 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup (shared with other teams)
  • Highest points in World Cup qualification: 30 out of 30 (2010) (shared with  Germany for 2018)

Spain in Major Competitions

FIFA World Cup History

Main article: Spain at the FIFA World Cup

Spain is often seen as a strong team, but they sometimes didn't do as well as expected in the World Cup. Spain's first World Cup was in 1934. They beat Brazil 3–1 and reached the quarter-finals. There, they lost to Italy. Before 2010, Spain's best result was fourth place in 1950. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Spain became world champions for the first time. They beat the Netherlands 1–0 in the final. Spain was the eighth country to win the World Cup.

     Champions       Runners-up       Third place     Hosts or co-hosts

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Did not enter Declined invitation
Italy 1934 Quarter-finals 5th 3 1 1 1 4 3 Squad 2 2 0 0 11 1
France 1938 Withdrew Withdrew
Brazil 1950 Fourth place 4th 6 3 1 2 10 12 Squad 2 1 1 0 7 3
Switzerland 1954 Did not qualify 3 1 1 1 6 4
Sweden 1958 4 2 1 1 12 8
Chile 1962 Group stage 13th 3 1 0 2 2 3 Squad 4 3 1 0 7 4
England 1966 10th 3 1 0 2 4 5 Squad 3 2 0 1 5 2
Mexico 1970 Did not qualify 6 2 2 2 10 6
West Germany 1974 5 2 2 1 8 6
Argentina 1978 Group stage 10th 3 1 1 1 2 2 Squad 4 3 0 1 4 1
Spain 1982 Second group stage 12th 5 1 2 2 4 5 Squad Qualified as host
Mexico 1986 Quarter-finals 7th 5 3 1 1 11 4 Squad 6 4 0 2 9 8
Italy 1990 Round of 16 10th 4 2 1 1 6 4 Squad 8 6 1 1 20 3
United States 1994 Quarter-finals 8th 5 2 2 1 10 6 Squad 12 8 3 1 27 4
France 1998 Group stage 17th 3 1 1 1 8 4 Squad 10 8 2 0 26 6
South Korea Japan 2002 Quarter-finals 5th 5 3 2 0 10 5 Squad 8 6 2 0 21 4
Germany 2006 Round of 16 9th 4 3 0 1 9 4 Squad 12 6 6 0 25 5
South Africa 2010 Champions 1st 7 6 0 1 8 2 Squad 10 10 0 0 28 5
Brazil 2014 Group stage 23rd 3 1 0 2 4 7 Squad 8 6 2 0 14 3
Russia 2018 Round of 16 10th 4 1 3 0 7 6 Squad 10 9 1 0 36 3
Qatar 2022 13th 4 1 2 1 9 3 Squad 8 6 1 1 15 5
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 Qualified as co-host Qualified as co-host
Saudi Arabia 2034 To be determined To be determined
Total 1 Title 16/22 67 31 17 19 108 75 — 125 87 26 12 291 81

UEFA European Championship History

Main article: Spain at the UEFA European Championship

Spain has won the most UEFA European Championships, with four titles. La Roja is also the only country to win the championship two times in a row. They hosted the tournament once in 1964. They have played in a total of twelve tournaments.

The team won their first international trophy at home in 1964. They beat the Soviet Union 2–1. Spain reached the final again twenty years later in 1984. They lost to France. Spain did not reach the final again until 2008. There, they beat Germany 1–0. Four years later, Spain won back-to-back titles. They beat Italy 4–0 in the final in Kyiv.

It took La Roja twelve years to reach another European final. They did so in 2024 against England. Spain won 2–1. This made them the most successful national team in the competition's history with four titles. They also became the first team to win all seven matches in a single tournament.

UEFA European Championship record Qualifying record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
France 1960 Withdrew 2 2 0 0 7 2
Spain 1964 Champions 1st 2 2 0 0 4 2 Squad 6 4 1 1 16 5
Italy 1968 Did not qualify 8 3 2 3 7 5
Belgium 1972 6 3 2 1 14 3
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1976 8 3 4 1 11 9
Italy 1980 Group stage 7th 3 0 1 2 2 4 Squad 6 4 1 1 13 5
France 1984 Runners-up 2nd 5 3|1|4|5 Squad 8 6 1 1 24 8
West Germany 1988 Group stage 6th 3 1 0 2 3 5 Squad 6 5 0 1 14 6
Sweden 1992 Did not qualify 7 3 0 4 17 12
England 1996 Quarter-finals 6th 4 1 3 0 4 3 Squad 10 8 2 0 25 4
Belgium Netherlands 2000 5th 4 2 0 2 7 7 Squad 8 7 0 1 42 5
Portugal 2004 Group stage 10th 3 1 1 1 2 2 Squad 10 7 2 1 21 5
Austria Switzerland 2008 Champions 1st 6 5 1 0 12 3 Squad 12 9 1 2 23 8
Poland Ukraine 2012 Champions 1st 6 4 2 0 12 1 Squad 8 8 0 0 26 6
France 2016 Round of 16 10th 4 2 0 2 5 4 Squad 10 9 0 1 23 3
Europe 2020 Semi-finals 3rd 6 2 4 0 13 6 Squad 10 8 2 0 31 5
Germany 2024 Champions 1st 7 7 0 0 15 4 Squad 8 7 0 1 25 5
United Kingdom Republic of Ireland 2028 To be determined To be determined
Italy Turkey 2032
Total 4 Titles 12/17 53 28 15 10 83 46 — 133 96 18 19 339 96

UEFA Nations League History

Since the first UEFA Nations League, Spain has stayed in League A. They have reached the UEFA Nations League Finals three times. They only missed out in the very first season. In the 2021 Finals, Spain won their semi-final against Italy 2–1 but lost to France in the final. In the next tournament, Spain reached the final again by beating Italy. Spain then beat Croatia on penalties after a 0–0 draw. Spain reached a record third final in a row in the 2025 edition. They beat the Netherlands in the quarter-finals and France in the semi-finals in an exciting 5–4 game. In the first ever Iberian final, Spain played Portugal in Munich. Spain controlled the game but couldn't score enough. The game ended 2–2 after extra time. Spain lost in the penalty shootout.

UEFA Nations League record
League phase / Quarter-finals Finals
Season LG Grp Pos Pld W D L GF GA P/R IR Year Pld W D* L GF GA Squad OR
2018–19 A 4 2nd 4 2 0 2 12 7 Same position 7th Portugal 2019 Did not qualify 7th
2020–21 A 4 1st 6 3 2 1 13 3 Same position 4th Italy 2021 2 1 0 1 3 3 Squad 2nd
2022–23 A 2 1st 6 3 2 1 8 5 Same position 3rd Netherlands 2023 2 1 1 0 2 1 Squad 1st
2024–25 A 4 1st 8 5 3 0 18 9 Same position 1st Germany 2025 1 1 1 0 7 6 Squad 2nd
Total 24 13 7 4 51 24 1st Total 6 3 2 1 12 10 3/4 1 Title

*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions

After winning their fourth European Championship in 2024, Spain qualified for their first CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions. They will play against Argentina, the champions of the 2024 Copa América.

CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad
France 1985 Did not qualify
Argentina 1993
England 2022
2026 Qualified
Total TBD TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 —

FIFA Confederations Cup History

Spain played in the FIFA Confederations Cup twice. Their first time was in 2009 as European champions, where they won a third-place medal. Spain lost 2–0 to the United States in the semi-finals. In the next tournament, Spain qualified as both World and European champions. La Roja reached the final in Brazil but lost 3–0 to the host team.

FIFA Confederations Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad
Saudi Arabia 1992 UEFA did not participate
Saudi Arabia 1995 Did not qualify
Saudi Arabia 1997
Mexico 1999
South Korea Japan 2001
France 2003
Germany 2005
South Africa 2009 Third place 3rd 5 4 0 1 11 4 Squad
Brazil 2013 Runners-up 2nd 5 3 1 1 15 4 Squad
Russia 2017 Did not qualify
Total Runners-up 2/10 10 7 1 2 26 8 —

Olympic Games History

Rules (UEFA)
  • 1900–1904: club teams
  • 1908–1988: amateur / youth national teams
  • 1992–present: under-23 national teams
Note

Spain first played in the 1920 Summer Olympics. This was their first international match ever. They won 1–0 against Denmark. Spain won their first silver medal at the end of that tournament.

Olympic Games record
Year Host city Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad
1900 Only club teams participated
1904
1908 No national representative
1912
1920 Silver medal 2nd 5 4 0 1 9 5 Squad
1924 First round 17th 1 0 0 1 0 1 Squad
1928 Quarter-finals 6th 3 1 1 1 9 9 Squad
1936 Withdrew
1948–1988 See Spain national amateur football team
Since 1992 See Spain national under-23 football team
Total 1 Silver medal 3/4 9 5 1 3 18 15 —

Awards and Honors

Major Competitions Won

Other Awards

  • FIFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Laureus World Team of the Year: 2011
  • World Soccer Team of the Year: 2008, 2010, 2012, 2024
  • Gazzetta Sports World Team of the Year: 2010, 2012
  • Prince of Asturias Award for Sports: 2010
  • FIFA World Cup Fair Play Trophy: 2006, 2010, 2018
  • FIFA Confederations Cup Fair Play Award: 2013

Source:

Summary of Medals

Competition 1 2 3 Total
FIFA World Cup 1 0 0 1
FIFA Confederations Cup 0 1 1 2
UEFA European Championship 4 1 0 5
UEFA Nations League 1 2 0 3
Total 6 4 1 11

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de España para niños

  • Spain women's national football team
  • Spain national under-23 football team (Olympic football team)
  • Spain national under-21 football team
  • Spain national under-20 football team
  • Spain national under-19 football team
  • Spain national under-18 football team
  • Spain national under-17 football team
  • Spain national under-16 football team
  • Spain national under-15 football team
  • Football in Spain
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