Spain departs for FIFA World Cup 2026 with key questions unanswered
Synopsis
Spain landed in the US for World Cup 2026 with their starting XI still a mystery — star names rested, a backup goalkeeper exposed, and coach De la Fuente playing his cards close to his chest. The Peru friendly on 8 June in Puebla is now the real audition before the Cabo Verde opener on 15 June.
Key Takeaways
Spain departed for the United States on 6 June , basing at Baylor School, Chattanooga for FIFA World Cup 2026 .
A 1-1 draw against Iraq on Thursday offered limited tactical insight, with coach Luis de la Fuente making all 11 changes .
Key players including Lamine Yamal , Pedri , Nico Williams , Martin Zubimendi , and Mikel Oyarzabal were absent through injury or rest.
Goalkeeper Garcia struggled, conceding at his near post; de la Fuente confirmed the starting keeper decision is already made, pointing to Unai Simon .
Spain face Peru in a friendly in Puebla on 8 June before opening the World Cup against Cabo Verde on 15 June in Atlanta .
Spain flew to the United States on Friday, 6 June to continue preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026, departing from Santiago de Compostela to Nashville following a 1-1 draw against Iraq in a pre-tournament friendly that offered coach Luis de la Fuente more questions than answers. The squad will base itself at Baylor School in Chattanooga for the duration of the tournament.
What the Iraq Friendly Revealed
Thursday's match in northern Spain was a deliberately rotated affair, with de la Fuente making all 11 changes across the game. Key first-team players — including Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Nico Williams, Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Oyarzabal — were either injured or resting, meaning the lineup bore little resemblance to the side expected to face Cabo Verde on 15 June in Atlanta in Spain's opening World Cup fixture.
All nine fringe players called up for the week's preparations featured, including goalkeeper Leo Roman. A well-organised Iraq side frustrated Spain throughout, holding their hosts to a share of the spoils.
Goalkeeper Dilemma in Focus
One of the most closely watched subplots heading into the tournament is the goalkeeping position. Unai Simon, the Athletic Bilbao shot-stopper who has been de la Fuente's first choice since he took over from Luis Enrique following the 2022 World Cup, was rested on Thursday.
His deputy, Garcia, endured a difficult evening — he was caught out of position for Iraq's goal, which crept in at his near post, and looked uncertain coming off his line to claim a second-half corner. Despite the performance, de la Fuente was unequivocal after the final whistle: 'We are clear on who the goalkeeper will be and the other 10 players,' he said, strongly implying Simon will return between the posts.
What De la Fuente Said
The coach framed the Iraq game in terms of physical conditioning rather than tactical fine-tuning. 'We had some objectives against Iraq, but we are also looking to achieve several things in terms of physical condition,' he said. He also noted: 'We have 11 days until the first World Cup game and another friendly in four days.'
Next Stop: Peru Friendly in Puebla
Spain will make a brief detour to Mexico on 8 June for a friendly against Peru in Puebla. That match is expected to give a far clearer picture of de la Fuente's preferred starting eleven, with the majority of the first-choice squad likely to feature. It will be the final dress rehearsal before the World Cup campaign begins in earnest.
Point of View
And De la Fuente is clearly content keeping it that way. The goalkeeping question is the one live issue — Garcia's shaky display will only sharpen scrutiny on whether Simon is truly undroppable or whether the coach is managing a squad dynamic. With Yamal and Pedri still to return, the Peru game is the only meaningful data point before the tournament begins. Spain's depth is not in question; their cohesion under pressure, with a new-look bench, is.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Spain play their first FIFA World Cup 2026 match?
Spain open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Cabo Verde on 15 June in Atlanta, USA. The match is their first Group stage fixture of the tournament.
Why did Spain draw 1-1 with Iraq in their pre-World Cup friendly?
Spain drew 1-1 with Iraq on 5 June in a deliberately rotated friendly, with coach Luis de la Fuente making all 11 changes and resting key players including Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Nico Williams. The result reflected squad management rather than competitive form.
Who is Spain's first-choice goalkeeper for the World Cup?
Coach Luis de la Fuente indicated after the Iraq game that the goalkeeping decision is settled, strongly pointing to Unai Simon of Athletic Bilbao, who has been his first choice since taking charge after the 2022 World Cup. Backup Garcia had a difficult outing against Iraq.
Where is Spain's World Cup base camp?
Spain will be based at Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee for the duration of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The team flew from Santiago de Compostela to Nashville before travelling to Chattanooga.
What is Spain's next match before the World Cup?
Spain face Peru in a friendly in Puebla, Mexico on 8 June. The match is expected to feature a near full-strength lineup and serve as the final pre-tournament test before the Cabo Verde opener on 15 June.
