Spain Coach Stays Grounded Despite Record Unbeaten Run and World Cup Favourites Tag

SEVILLE, Nov 18: Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has urged calm and perspective despite his side’s exceptional form, which has propelled them to the top of world rankings and made them leading contenders for the 2026 World Cup.

Spain extended their unbeaten streak to 30 matches with a commanding 4-0 win over Georgia on Saturday, surpassing the previous national record of 29 games set during Vicente del Bosque’s dominant era from 2010 to 2013.

The team’s resurgence has been marked by flawless performances, including a perfect Euro 2024 campaign where La Roja won all seven matches to clinch a record fourth European Championship title. Their momentum has continued in World Cup qualifying, with five straight victories, 19 goals scored, and no goals conceded.

With a maximum 15 points from Group E, Spain is all but assured of automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Only an improbable 7-0 defeat to Turkey on Tuesday would knock them from the top spot.

Speaking ahead of the match in Seville, De la Fuente recognized the rising expectations but stressed that no team can be considered a guaranteed favorite on the world stage.

“We’re certainly among the favorites, but in a World Cup there’s no such thing as a clear frontrunner,” he told reporters. “Success means having the chance to compete to win, but the margins in football are incredibly small.”

The coach credited Spain’s sustained excellence to a unified footballing philosophy implemented across clubs and the national federation.

“The secret is the collective work, strong training systems, long-term investment, and a clear model of play,” he said. “Everyone believes in the idea, and the results reflect that.”

Despite already securing their position, De la Fuente confirmed that Spain will not rotate the squad against Turkey, insisting on maintaining high standards.

“We take this match very seriously. It’s about prestige and showing what we’ve built,” he said. “There will be no gifts. Every player must earn their place, and they all deserve to be here.”

Spain will host Turkey on Tuesday as they look to extend their unbeaten run and reinforce their status as the world’s top-ranked team heading toward next year’s World Cup.