Pre-World Cup Stumble: Toothless Spain held to 1-1 draw by resilient Iraq

Luis de la Fuente’s side controlled 63% of possession, but a defensive lapse allowed Merchas Doski to cancel out Ferran Torres' opener in a frustrating night at Riazor.

Photo: AFP

The final testing phase for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has exposed unexpected vulnerabilities for tournament favorites. In their final performance on domestic soil before crossing the Atlantic, the Spain national team endured a flat 1-1 draw against Iraq at the ABANCA-Riazor Stadium in La Coruña. Despite monopolizing possession and entering the fixture as heavy favorites, Luis de la Fuente’s squad delivered a sluggish, lateral performance that sparked early criticism from local media just one week away from the tournament's opening whistle.

Spain lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation heavily modified due to workload management and injuries. Key figures including Rodri, Pedri, Marc Cucurella, and Mikel Oyarzabal were rested entirely. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s teenage sensations Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams remained sidelined due to minor physical complaints, though De la Fuente assured post-match that their recovery "is progressing as planned" ahead of their June 15 World Cup debut against Cape Verde in Atlanta.

La Roja initially appeared to validate their tactical superiority. In the 16th minute, an incisive transition sparked by an Aymeric Laporte interception allowed Borja Iglesias to execute a clever dummy, freeing Ferran Torres inside the area. The Barcelona forward clinical fired a low strike past goalkeeper Ahmed Basil to make it 1-0, reinforcing his exceptional goalscoring record within the national team's historical ranks.

However, Spanish complacency proved costly a mere eleven minutes later. In the 27th minute, during a rare offensive foray by the Asian side, left-back Merchas Doski latched onto a deep pass from Ali Hashim and caught Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia off his line with a looping cross-shot that settled into the back of the net for an unexpected 1-2 equalizer.

The shock of conceding completely dismantled Spain's tactical rhythm, breeding frustration among youngsters Marc Bernal and Gavi, both of whom picked up yellow cards in a highly congested midfield battle. A second-half flurry of substitutions—introducing Mikel Merino alongside debuts for Jon Martin, Gonzalo, and Jesus Rodriguez—failed to alter the narrative. While Gavi captained the senior squad for the first time in his career, La Roja lacked verticality and final-third penetration.

Spain controlled 63% of possession and registered 14 total shots, but Iraq’s low block, anchored by excellent interventions from Basil, dissolved every offensive wave, including a fierce Ferran Torres strike that hit the crossbar. Luis de la Fuente’s squad will now pack their bags for Mexico, where they are scheduled to play their final preparatory friendly against Peru at the Cuauhtemoc Stadium in Puebla on Monday, June 8, seeking to clear doubts before their official tournament journey begins.