FIFA WC warm-up: Spain held 1-1 by Iraq, Sweden draw 2-2 with Greece
Synopsis
Spain's World Cup warm-up ended in a 1-1 stalemate against Iraq at La Coruña, with a goalkeeping error and 72% possession yielding just one goal. Meanwhile, Sweden were pegged back by Greece in injury time, and France were stunned 2-1 by Côte d'Ivoire — a collectively unsettling set of results just days before the tournament begins.
Key Takeaways
Spain drew 1-1 with Iraq in a World Cup warm-up at La Coruña on 5 June , with Ferran Torres scoring and Merchas Doski equalising in the 27th minute .
Coach Luis de la Fuente handed debuts to Marc Bernal and Jon Martin ; key players including Lamine Yamal , Nico Williams , and Pedri were absent or rested.
Spain's World Cup opener is against Cabo Verde on 15 June ; they face Peru in a final warm-up in Puebla on 9 June .
Sweden drew 2-2 with Greece in Stockholm , with Viktor Gyokeres scoring and Giorgos Masouras equalising in injury time.
France lost 2-1 to Côte d'Ivoire in Nantes , with Guela Doue scoring and assisting for the Ivorians.
Spain were held to a 1-1 draw by Iraq in a FIFA World Cup warm-up match at La Coruña on 5 June, as the Asian side produced a disciplined defensive performance against a heavily rotated Spanish lineup. The result adds a note of caution to Spain's preparations ahead of their tournament opener against Cabo Verde on 15 June.
Spain's Depleted XI and Debut Calls
Coach Luis de la Fuente handed first senior starts to Barcelona midfielder Marc Bernal and Real Sociedad defender Jon Martin, both drawn from the support group assembled to aid World Cup preparations. A string of first-choice players were unavailable — injured trio Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, and Victor Munoz missed out, while Champions League finalists Martin Zubimendi, David Raya, and Fabian Ruiz were also absent. Mikel Oyarzabal, Pedri, and Marc Cucurella were rested.
De la Fuente's decision to start Joan Garcia in goal has intensified debate over whether the Barcelona shot-stopper or Athletic Club's Unai Simon will be Spain's first-choice keeper at the tournament.
How the Goals Fell
Ferran Torres opened the scoring in the 16th minute, finishing left-footed after Borja Iglesias dummied an Aymeric Laporte pass, with Iraq's defence slow to close down. Spain controlled possession — registering 72 percent of the ball — but struggled to unlock a resolute Iraqi low block. Torres also struck the crossbar before the interval.
Iraq's equaliser arrived in the 27th minute when Merchas Doski's curling effort found the net, with Garcia caught out of position, apparently anticipating a cross rather than a shot.
The second half was largely uneventful. De la Fuente introduced further debutants including right-back Marc Pubill, who is in the World Cup squad, alongside Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia, Real Sociedad's Sergio Gomez, Valencia's Javi Guerra, and Mallorca goalkeeper Leo Roman, who did not make the final roster. Spain failed to carve out a clear chance after the restart.
Iraq's Tough Group Ahead
The result underlines that Iraq will not be a pushover at the World Cup, where they face a formidable group containing France, Senegal, and Norway. Iraq's next warm-up is against Norway, two days after Spain kick off against Cabo Verde on 15 June.
France Stunned, Sweden Held — Other Warm-Up Results
France suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat to Côte d'Ivoire in Nantes. Rayan Cherki had given France the lead, but Guela Doue — getting the better of his brother Desire, who was on the bench — equalised in style before setting up Amad Diallo with six minutes remaining to seal a memorable victory for the Ivorians.
In Stockholm, Sweden were held to a 2-2 draw by Greece in their send-off match — a second successive stumble after a 3-1 loss to Norway. Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres, freshly back after being rested following the UEFA Champions League final, levelled for Sweden with a deflected free-kick. Gustav Nilsson then put coach Graham Potter's side ahead, only for Giorgos Masouras to snatch a Greek equaliser deep into injury time.
With the World Cup days away, these results serve as a reminder that form in warm-ups rarely predicts tournament performance — but squad depth and goalkeeper selection will remain talking points for Spain's camp as they fly to the United States on Friday before a final rehearsal against Peru in Puebla, Mexico on 9 June.
Point of View
France's loss to Côte d'Ivoire and Sweden's late equaliser conceded against Greece suggest that several European sides are entering this World Cup with unresolved selection puzzles. Warm-up results rarely predict tournament outcomes, but they do expose squad depth — and Spain's depth, on this evidence, has clear limits when the regulars sit out.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of Spain vs Iraq World Cup warm-up?
Spain drew 1-1 with Iraq in a World Cup warm-up match at La Coruña on 5 June. Ferran Torres gave Spain the lead in the 16th minute, but Merchas Doski equalised for Iraq in the 27th minute.
Which Spain players were absent for the Iraq warm-up?
Injured players Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, and Victor Munoz missed the match, along with Champions League finalists Martin Zubimendi, David Raya, and Fabian Ruiz. Mikel Oyarzabal, Pedri, and Marc Cucurella were rested.
When does Spain play their first World Cup match?
Spain open their FIFA World Cup campaign against Cabo Verde on 15 June. Before that, they play a final warm-up against Peru in Puebla, Mexico on 9 June.
What was the Sweden vs Greece warm-up result?
Sweden and Greece drew 2-2 in a send-off match in Stockholm. Viktor Gyokeres levelled for Sweden with a deflected free-kick, but Giorgos Masouras equalised for Greece deep in injury time to deny Graham Potter's side a win.
Did France win their World Cup warm-up?
No — France lost 2-1 to Côte d'Ivoire in Nantes. Rayan Cherki had given France the lead, but Guela Doue equalised and then set up Amad Diallo to complete the upset with six minutes remaining.
