As Spain prepares to leave Santiago de Compostela at 10 a.m. on Friday for Chattanooga via Nashville, they do so without seven of the eight players who debuted in their final warm-up match before the World Cup. Additionally, the national team departs without a win, having settled for a 1-1 draw against Iraq at Estadio Riazor. While this result may not seem promising—and indeed, it was far from it—the performance led by Mikel Merino, who contributed a solid 22-minute stint, should not raise major concerns.
Coach Luis de la Fuente’s squad remains among the leading contenders in the upcoming tournament across the US, Canada, and Mexico, and justifiably so; however, the team showcased here was far from his first choice.
Fans seeking insights into Spain’s potential World Cup performance left La Coruña with more questions than answers. This confusion stemmed from several factors: the fifth group of players only arrived at their Las Rozas training center late Wednesday evening, just 24 hours and 15 minutes before the match started. With 11 substitutions made throughout the game, it is likely that only two or three of the coach’s preferred starting eleven were on the field for this encounter. Furthermore, many players who seemed most invested in this match won’t be traveling to the US.
Of the ten players who did make the journey to the US, several notable absences were evident. Not just those who participated in the Champions League final—like Fabián Ruiz, David Raya, and Martín Zubimendi—were missing. De la Fuente also opted to leave out Nico Williams, who has only seen limited action recently, and Lamine Yamal, absent since April due to a hamstring injury. Yamal, in particular, remains a significant concern for the team. Additionally, Rodri, Pedri, Mikel Oyarzabal, Marc Cucurella, and Víctor Muñoz were also spectators in the stands.
On the field, only Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, and possibly Dani Olmo could be considered natural starters. Among those who began the match, Marc Bernal and Jon Martín will not be heading to the World Cup, and seven substitutes at kick-off will be left behind as well. De la Fuente took the opportunity to field players from the support squad, who joined the main team for training over the past week. All were given a chance to play, resulting in a record eight debutants on a single night—a fact that may well become a trivia question in the future.
Spain has a well-defined lineup, with few positions still up for grabs, making this match feel somewhat unnecessary. If this was a chance for Joan García to stake his claim for the goalkeeping position—a topic of national debate—then Iraq’s goal did little to bolster his case. As for Gavi, returning from injury, his performance did not harm his prospects. He was active throughout the game, and his booking was no surprise.
The team structure appeared slightly different, with the 4-2-3-1 formation looking more pronounced than it might in the US, where a 4-3-3 setup is anticipated. In the absence of Lamine Yamal, Williams, and Muñoz, the wingers were Álex Baena and Ferran Torres, both of whom tend to cut inside, resulting in a lack of the direct attacking style De la Fuente effectively utilized at the Euros, hence offering little clarity on tactical approaches.
One aspect that likely pleased the head coach was Laporte’s confidence in advancing the ball. He intercepted a pass and initiated the play that led to Spain’s opening goal in the 15th minute. His precise forward pass broke through Iraq’s initial defensive line, reaching Olmo. Olmo then swiftly moved the ball forward, allowing Borja Iglesias to let it pass through his legs, setting up Torres to sprint in from the right and slot home a low shot.
This sequence, while expected, resulted in a Spanish dominance that drew cheers and waves from the crowd; however, further goals proved elusive. Iraq equalized through Merchas Doski, whose shot from the left wing, intended as a cross, caught the defense off-guard. García managed to get a fingertip on it but could not prevent the goal. Torres later struck the bar, and Olmo missed a volley, but the teams went into halftime at 1-1 after Spain made five substitutions. Just 18 seconds after coming on, Jesus Rodríguez had a chance but shot wide.
Three additional substitutions occurred at the 59-minute mark, all involving debutants: Atlético Madrid’s Pubill, who is going to the US, and Beñat Turrientes and Javi Guerra, who are not. Seven minutes later, Merino, who has seen limited play since January, entered the match wearing the captain’s armband, continuing his recovery journey. He was followed onto the pitch by Leo Román and Rodríguez, but no further goals emerged.
Although these players won’t be on the flight to Nashville, a total of 26 will, and they’ll arrive in the US with a week to prepare, still favored to succeed.
