Spain Kicks Off 2026 World Cup Preparation with Iraq Match in La Coruña. The Spanish national team held its first warm-up match ahead of the 2026 World Cup in La Coruña. Luis de la Fuente’s squad faced Iraq, marking the latter’s return to the global stage after 40 years. The match marked the beginning of Spain’s preparation for the tournament.
At the Riazor stadium in La Coruña, the Spanish national team played their first friendly match as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. Under the guidance of Luis de la Fuente, the team faced Iraq, which returned to the global stage for the first time in four decades. The Spanish squad used this match to search for optimal solutions in their lineup, especially in attack, where the coaching staff had to experiment due to the absence of several key players.
Spain's starting lineup on the field included: Joan García, Pedro Porro, Laporte, Jon Martín, Grimaldo, Bernal, Gavi, Olmo, Ferran, Baena, and Borja Iglesias. The latter had an opportunity to prove himself as a forward amid the reshuffling of players. Special attention was focused on the goalkeeper position—Joan García started in goal, which sparked discussions among fans and experts.
The Iraqi national team, led by Australian coach Graham Arnold, took to the pitch with a confirmed tactical setup—a four-man defense and flexibility between the 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations. The visitors' lineup included Basil, Ali, Tahseen, Hashem, Doski, Al Ammari, Ismail, Farji, Bayseh, Jassim, and Al Hamadi. Iraq was noteworthy for its solid defense during the qualifiers, keeping clean sheets in 12 matches, and for set-piece efficiency—8 out of 15 goals were scored from free kicks, corners, and penalties.
After the match in La Coruña, the Spanish national team will continue its World Cup preparations in the United States, where the final phase of the training camp will take place. It is important to note that interest in the national team's friendlies is traditionally high, especially amid changes in the lineup and tactical experiments. In similar situations, when weather conditions or other external factors affect sporting events, local authorities warn residents in advance, as was recently the case in Catalonia — regional authorities declared an alert due to the risk of heavy rain.
For reference: the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held for the first time in three countries — the US, Canada, and Mexico. Spain is traditionally considered one of the tournament favorites, and the preparatory matches allow the coaching staff to assess the players' form and determine the optimal lineup. Iraq, for its part, is returning to the world stage after a long hiatus, making their participation in these friendlies particularly significant for national football.
