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Spain women's national football team facts for kids

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Spain
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) La Roja (The Red One)
Association Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF)
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Montserrat Tomé
Captain Irene Paredes
Most caps Alexia Putellas (138)
Top scorer Jenni Hermoso (57)
FIFA code ESP
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 12 Steady (7 December 2018)
Highest 1 (December 2023 – June 2024)
Lowest 21 (June – August 2004; March 2008)
First international
Unofficial
Flag of Spain (1945–1977).svg Spain 3–3 Portugal 
(Murcia, Spain; 21 February 1971)
Official
Flag of Spain.svg Spain 0–1 Portugal 
(A Guarda, Spain; 5 February 1983)
Biggest win
Flag of Spain.svg Spain 17–0 Slovenia 
(Palamós, Spain; 20 March 1994)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Spain.svg Spain 0–8 Sweden 
(Gandia, Spain; 2 June 1996)
World Cup
Appearances 3 (first in 2015)
Best result Champions (2023)
Olympic Games
Appearances 1 (first in 2024)
Best result Fourth place (2024)
European Championship
Appearances 5 (first in 1997)
Best result Runners-up (2025)
Nations League Finals
Appearances 1 (first in 2024)
Best result Champions (2024)
Medal record
FIFA Women's World Cup
Gold 2023 Australia-New Zealand Team
UEFA Women's Championship
Silver 2025 Switzerland Team
UEFA Women's Nations League
Gold 2024 France, Netherlands & Spain Team

The Spain women's national football team, also known as La Roja (The Red One), represents Spain in international football games. It is managed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, which is the main organization for football in Spain.

Spain is currently one of the top teams in the world. They are one of only five national teams to have won the FIFA Women's World Cup, achieving this amazing feat in 2023. Spain is also one of only two countries, along with Germany, to have won both the women's and men's World Cups. They made history by becoming the first nation to hold world champion titles in all three women's football categories at the same time: Under-17, Under-20, and senior level.

At the European level, Spain won the first-ever UEFA Women's Nations League in 2024. This made them the first country to win both the women's and men's Nations League competitions. They have also played in the UEFA Women's Championship five times, reaching the semi-finals in 1997 and finishing as runners-up in 2025.

History of the Spanish Women's Football Team

How it All Started

Around 1970, some unofficial women's football clubs began to appear in Spain. A person named Rafael Muga wanted to create a national team. At first, the official football federation didn't think football was a suitable sport for women. In fact, the president of the federation in 1971 even said he didn't think women looked good in shirts and shorts!

Despite this, an unofficial Spanish team played its first game on 21 February 1971 in Murcia against Portugal, ending in a 3–3 draw. They weren't allowed to wear the official federation badge. Later, they played against Italy and lost 8–1. The official federation even stopped them from joining an early women's world cup. This unofficial team eventually stopped playing.

Becoming Official in the 1980s

After Spain became a democracy, the Royal Spanish Football Federation finally accepted women's football in November 1980. They created a national cup and then an official national team. This team played its first official game on 5 February 1983 against Portugal, losing 0–1.

The team then played friendly matches against France and Switzerland. They got their first official win in Zürich (0–1). In 1985, they played their first official qualifying match for the European Championship. The team's coach, Teodoro Nieto, was later replaced by Ignacio Quereda in 1988, who coached the team for 27 years.

Growing Stronger in the 1990s and 2000s

In the 1995 Euro qualifiers, Spain showed improvement, finishing second in their group. They also achieved their biggest win ever, a 17–0 victory over Slovenia. In the 1997 Euro qualifiers, Spain made it to the main tournament for the first time! They reached the semi-finals, where they were defeated by Italy.

After this success, the team faced a long period of not qualifying for major tournaments. They often finished low in their groups during qualifiers for the World Cup and European Championships.

First World Cups in the 2010s

Spain finally qualified for the UEFA Women's Euro 2013 after beating Scotland in a playoff. They reached the quarterfinals but were eliminated by Norway.

Two years later, Spain qualified for their first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015. However, their performance in the group stage was disappointing, and they were eliminated early. After the World Cup, the players asked for a change in coaching. Ignacio Quereda stepped down, and Jorge Vilda became the new head coach.

Spain then qualified for the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 by winning all their matches. They also won the Algarve Cup for the first time. In the Euro 2017, they reached the quarterfinals but lost in a penalty shootout.

Spain womens national team 20181113
Spain women's national team in 2018

At the 2019 World Cup, Spain made it to the knockout stage for the first time in their history. They were eliminated in the Round of 16 by the eventual champions, the United States.

The Golden Generation of the 2020s

In the early 2020s, Spain's team became one of the top 10 in the FIFA Women's World Rankings. Spanish players also started winning major individual awards in European club football.

Spain qualified for the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 without losing a game and was considered a top contender. However, key players Jennifer Hermoso and Alexia Putellas were injured just before the tournament. Spain reached the quarter-finals but lost to England in extra time.

Team Challenges and Resolutions

In September 2022, some players expressed concerns about the team's training and environment. They wanted improvements in how the team was managed. Over time, many players and the federation worked together to resolve these issues.

Nations League Champions and Olympic Debut

With the new UEFA Women's Nations League, Spain was a strong favorite to win. They won their group and qualified for the final four. In the semi-finals, Spain defeated the Netherlands 3-0. In the final, Spain faced France, a team they had never beaten before. Spain won 2-0, claiming their second international trophy and becoming the first champions of the UEFA Nations League.

Spain also qualified for their first-ever women's football tournament at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. They finished first in their group, winning all three matches. In the quarter-finals, Spain beat Colombia in a penalty shootout. Although they were favorites for a medal, Spain lost to Brazil in the semi-finals and then to Germany in the bronze medal match, finishing in fourth place.

Spain continued their strong performance in the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 tournament. They reached the final but were defeated by England in a penalty shootout, finishing as runners-up.

Recent Matches

  • The following is a summary of Spain's match results in the last 12 months.
Legend

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixtures

In 2024, Spain had a busy year, including their first appearance at the Olympic Games. They won all their group matches against Japan, Nigeria, and Brazil. In the quarter-finals, they drew 2-2 with Colombia but won in a penalty shootout. Spain then lost to Brazil in the semi-finals and Germany in the bronze medal match, finishing fourth. They also played several friendly matches, drawing with Canada and Italy, and winning against South Korea and France.

In 2025, Spain continued their strong form in the UEFA Women's Nations League, winning five out of six group matches against Belgium, England, and Portugal. They also had a successful run in the UEFA Women's Euro 2025, winning all their group matches and reaching the final, where they finished as runners-up after a penalty shootout against England.

Coaching Staff

Players

Current Squad

The following 23 players were part of the squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2025.

Caps and goals as of 27 July 2025
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Esther Sullastres (1993-03-20) 20 March 1993 (age 32) 1 0 Spain Sevilla
13 1GK Catalina Coll (2001-04-23) 23 April 2001 (age 24) 30 0 Spain Barcelona
23 1GK Adriana Nanclares (2002-05-09) 9 May 2002 (age 23) 5 0 Spain Athletic Bilbao

2 2DF Ona Batlle (1999-06-10) 10 June 1999 (age 26) 67 2 Spain Barcelona
3 2DF Jana Fernández (2002-02-18) 18 February 2002 (age 23) 11 0 Spain Barcelona
4 2DF Irene Paredes (captain) (1991-07-04) 4 July 1991 (age 34) 121 14 Spain Barcelona
5 2DF María Méndez (2001-04-10) 10 April 2001 (age 24) 16 2 Spain Real Madrid
7 2DF Olga Carmona (3rd captain) (2000-06-12) 12 June 2000 (age 25) 61 3 France Paris Saint-Germain
14 2DF Laia Aleixandri (2000-08-25) 25 August 2000 (age 24) 46 3 Spain Barcelona
15 2DF Leila Ouahabi (1993-03-22) 22 March 1993 (age 32) 66 1 England Manchester City

6 3MF Aitana Bonmatí (5th captain) (1998-01-18) 18 January 1998 (age 27) 84 31 Spain Barcelona
10 3MF Athenea del Castillo (2000-10-24) 24 October 2000 (age 24) 66 18 Spain Real Madrid
11 3MF Alexia Putellas (vice-captain) (1994-02-04) 4 February 1994 (age 31) 138 38 Spain Barcelona
12 3MF Patricia Guijarro (1998-05-17) 17 May 1998 (age 27) 75 13 Spain Barcelona
19 3MF Vicky López (2006-07-26) 26 July 2006 (age 19) 15 4 Spain Barcelona
22 3MF Maite Zubieta (2002-05-28) 28 May 2002 (age 23) 7 0 Spain Athletic Bilbao

8 4FW Mariona Caldentey (4th captain) (1996-03-19) 19 March 1996 (age 29) 95 32 England Arsenal
9 4FW Esther González (1992-12-08) 8 December 1992 (age 32) 57 37 United States Gotham FC
16 4FW Cristina Martín-Prieto (1993-03-14) 14 March 1993 (age 32) 8 3 Portugal Benfica
17 4FW Lucía García (1998-07-14) 14 July 1998 (age 27) 58 13 Mexico Monterrey
18 4FW Salma Paralluelo (2003-11-13) 13 November 2003 (age 21) 44 14 Spain Barcelona
20 4FW Clàudia Pina (2001-08-12) 12 August 2001 (age 23) 21 9 Spain Barcelona
21 4FW Alba Redondo (1996-08-27) 27 August 1996 (age 28) 43 16 Spain Real Madrid

Recent Call-ups

  • The following players were also named to a squad in the last 12 months.


Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Eunate Astralaga (2005-11-30) 30 November 2005 (age 19) 0 0 Spain Eibar v. Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal; 8 April 2025 PRE
GK Misa Rodríguez (1999-07-23) 23 July 1999 (age 26) 24 0 Spain Real Madrid 2024 Summer Olympics
GK Elene Lete (2002-05-07) 7 May 2002 (age 23) 1 0 Spain Real Sociedad 2024 Summer Olympics

DF Laia Codina INJ (2000-01-22) 22 January 2000 (age 25) 23 2 England Arsenal v. Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium; 30 May 2025 PRE
DF Berta Pujadas (2000-04-09) 9 April 2000 (age 25) 3 0 Spain Levante Badalona v. Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal; 4 April 2025 PRE
DF Ana Tejada (2002-06-02) 2 June 2002 (age 23) 2 0 United States Utah Royals v. Flag of Italy.svg Italy; 29 October 2024
DF Oihane Hernández (2000-05-04) 4 May 2000 (age 25) 27 1 United States Orlando Pride 2024 Summer Olympics

MF Sheila García (1997-03-15) 15 March 1997 (age 28) 23 1 Spain Real Madrid v. Flag of England.svg England; 3 June 2025 PRE
MF Silvia Lloris (2004-05-15) 15 May 2004 (age 21) 0 0 Spain Atlético Madrid v. Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal; 8 April 2025 PRE
MF Teresa Abelleira INJ (2000-01-09) 9 January 2000 (age 25) 44 3 Spain Real Madrid v. Flag of England.svg England; 26 February 2025 PRE
MF Maite Oroz (1998-03-25) 25 March 1998 (age 27) 15 4 England Tottenham Hotspur v. Flag of England.svg England; 26 February 2025 PRE
MF Fiamma Benítez (2004-06-19) 19 June 2004 (age 21) 9 2 Spain Atlético Madrid v. Flag of France.svg France; 1 December 2024 PRE
MF Inma Gabarro (2002-11-05) 5 November 2002 (age 22) 5 2 England Everton 2024 Summer Olympics PRE

FW Lucía Corrales (2005-11-24) 24 November 2005 (age 19) 1 0 Spain Sevilla v. Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium; 30 May 2025
FW Macarena Portales (1998-08-02) 2 August 1998 (age 26) 2 0 Spain Levante Badalona v. Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal; 8 April 2025 PRE
FW Amaiur Sarriegi (2000-12-13) 13 December 2000 (age 24) 20 13 Spain Atlético Madrid v. Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium; 21 February 2025 PRE
FW Bruna Vilamala (2002-06-04) 4 June 2002 (age 23) 3 1 England Brighton & Hove Albion v. Flag of France.svg France; 1 December 2024
FW Jenni Hermoso (1990-05-09) 9 May 1990 (age 35) 123 57 Mexico Tigres UANL v. Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada; 25 October 2024
FW Eva Navarro (2001-01-27) 27 January 2001 (age 24) 26 5 Spain Real Madrid 2024 Summer Olympics

INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
PRE Preliminary squad.
RET Player retired from the national team
WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.

Previous Squads

Team Honours and Awards

Major Titles

Minor Titles

Other Awards

  • Premios Nacionales del Deporte (National Sports Awards): Best national sports team (2014)
  • Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit (2023)
  • Laureus World Sports Award for Team of the Year (2024)

Player Records

Caps and goals as of 27 July 2025.
Players in bold are still active, at least at club level.
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