The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues as the Spain National Team takes the field on Thursday for its first warm-up match against Iraq at Riazor Stadium in La Coruña. The friendly will serve as an important opportunity for Luis de la Fuente to evaluate his squad and fine-tune preparations before the start of the tournament.

While the result itself carries little significance, the Spanish coaching staff will use the match to assess several players hoping to earn a larger role heading into football’s biggest competition.

Spain Arrives With Several Key Absences

The biggest storyline ahead of the match is the number of players unavailable for Spain. Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Pedri, and Mikel Oyarzabal have been left out of the squad for the friendly, while Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Víctor Muñoz remain sidelined through injury.

In addition, David Raya, Martín Zubimendi, and Fabián Ruiz will not feature after joining the training camp only recently following their participation in the UEFA Champions League Final. None of them completed enough training sessions to be considered for selection.

In total, ten members of Spain’s World Cup roster will miss the team’s first preparatory match, forcing Luis de la Fuente to significantly reshape his lineup.

Opportunity for Emerging Talent

With so many absences, several young players are expected to receive valuable minutes. Marc Bernal, Javi Rodríguez, Jesús Rodríguez, Leo Román, Gonzalo García, Sergio Gómez, Jon Martin, Beñat Turrientes, and Javi Guerra have joined the squad as temporary reinforcements and could play prominent roles against Iraq.

The friendly offers a chance for these players to showcase their abilities and prove they can provide depth during the World Cup campaign.

All the Goals