Spain's World Cup qualifying campaign is nothing short of flawless—but can they keep it up? With a stunning 4-0 victory over Georgia, Spain has maintained a perfect record, scoring 19 goals and conceding none in five matches. Yet, as they edge closer to securing their spot in next year’s tournament, manager Luis de la Fuente remains cautious. 'We have maximum respect for all our rivals, including Turkey,' he said, emphasizing the need to stay grounded until qualification is mathematically certain. But here’s where it gets controversial: Turkey, trailing by three points, could still snatch the top spot if they defeat Spain by a significant margin in Seville. Is Spain’s seemingly unshakable lead truly safe, or could we witness an upset?
Mikel Oyarzabal stole the show with two goals and an assist, proving Spain’s depth even without injured stars like Lamine Yamal and Pedri González. Oyarzabal’s 20th and 21st international goals—including a penalty in the 11th minute and a header in the 63rd—highlighted his pivotal role. Martín Zubimendi and Ferran Torres also found the net, sealing a 3-0 halftime lead. But this is the part most people miss: Oyarzabal’s most crucial goal for Spain was the winner in the 2024 European Championship final against England. Could he be the key to their World Cup success too?
Meanwhile, Belgium stumbled in a 1-1 draw against Kazakhstan, missing a golden opportunity to secure qualification. Despite dominating possession and playing with an extra man after Islam Chesnokov’s red card, they couldn’t capitalize. Is Belgium’s golden generation losing its edge? They still lead Group J but face a must-win match against Liechtenstein on Tuesday. Elsewhere, Turkey secured a playoff spot with a 2-0 win over Bulgaria, while Wales and North Macedonia remain locked in a tight battle for second place in Group J.
In other groups, Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina are vying for the top spot in Group H, with Austria holding a two-point lead. Denmark and Scotland are in a similar tug-of-war in Group C, while Switzerland continues to dominate Group B. With so many teams on the brink of qualification, which underdog could pull off a surprise? And as Spain prepares to face Turkey, the question remains: Will their perfect record hold, or will the Turks spoil the party? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—do you think Spain’s dominance is unshakable, or is there room for an upset?
