Spain defeats Bulgaria resoundingly in their inaugural match for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers

In a dominating performance, Spain defeated Bulgaria 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier, marking the first competitive meeting between the two teams in over two decades. The last encounter, at the 1998 World Cup, ended in a 6-1 rout for Spain.

Jesús Rodríguez made his international debut for Spain in the final stages, replacing Lamine Yamal, who was bright and dangerous on the right flank but did not find the back of the net. Rodríguez's debut came in the 2026 World Cup qualifier, a testament to the faith shown by Spain's coach, Luis de la Fuente.

Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Spain, with the goal set up by Martin Zubimendi. Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino added a second with a goal from a corner kick by Lamine Yamal, reflecting Spain's dominance in the first half. Marc Cucurella scored his first goal for Spain later in the match, ensuring the victory.

Radoslav Kirilov hit the post for Bulgaria during the match, but Spain's defence held firm. Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal also made his return off the bench, having missed nine months due to injury. Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernandez, who was also absent due to injury, made his long-awaited return off the bench, having missed seven months.

Despite the healthy lead, Spain could not keep the goals flowing in the second half. Coach Luis de la Fuente expressed satisfaction but emphasized the need for continued improvement. "We're happy but we have to keep taking steps forward," he said.

Looking ahead, Spain will visit Turkey in their next qualifier on Sunday, following Turkey's victory over Georgia. The game against Turkey will be more demanding, and de la Fuente emphasized the need for improvement. Spain is expected to top Group E, which also contains Turkey and Georgia, to reach the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico directly.