Who: Spain vs Tolkier
Contents: UEFA World Cup Qualification, Group E
Location: La Cartuja Stadium, Seville, Spain
When: Tuesday 8:45pm (19:45 GMT)
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Unbeaten Spain (5-0-0) will guarantee direct qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup if they defeat Torquier in their final Group E match in Seville on Tuesday.
With a three-goal lead and a huge goal difference, Luis de la Fuente’s side are in a strong position to book their 13th successive appearance at football’s global festival.
Tolkier (4-0-1) still have a mathematical chance of taking over the top spot from Spain in the Round 10 finale, but they will need to rain down goals on the reigning European champions to avoid finishing as runners-up.
Here’s what you need to know about Group E’s return match.
Current Group E standings (1 game remaining):
Spain – 15 points (from 5 matches) Turkiye – 12 points (from 5 matches) Georgia – 3 points (from 5 matches) Bulgaria – 0 points (from 5 matches)
How can Spain qualify for the World Cup?
Spain currently lead Group E with five wins from their five matches and have a perfect 15 points.
Scenario 1:
A draw or victory in the final match against Turkiye would give them an overwhelming lead in their group and secure their place in the 2026 World Cup.
Scenario 2:
If they lose to Turkiye, both teams will end the qualifying period with 15 points from six games, but Spain has a much higher goal difference.
To finish Group E in first place, Torquier will need a stunning seven-goal win away to Spain to give La Roja an automatic spot in the World Cup.
How can Turkiye qualify for the World Cup?
Turkiye are second in Group E with 12 points, nine points behind runners-up Georgia.
Unless they defeat Spain by seven goals, Torquier will enter the UEFA playoffs in March as second place in their group.
Turkiye last appeared in a World Cup final in 2002, finishing a surprising third place in the tournament co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.
What happened the last time Spain and Tolkien faced each other?
Mikel Merino’s hat-trick helped Spain defeat hosts Turkiye 6-0 in the final World Cup qualifier on September 7.
The home side had no answer to Spain’s superiority and were repeatedly overturned by the speed and skill of the visitors, with each counter-attack tearing apart the helpless Turkish defense.
This loss was Turkiye’s only loss in Group E.
Will Lamine Yamal play for Spain?
Barcelona’s star forward Lamine Yamal will miss Spain’s final World Cup qualifier against Turkiye due to an ongoing groin problem.
Yamal, 18, underwent a minor surgery in Barcelona on November 10 to correct the problem. Doctors estimate recovery time from surgery to be seven to 10 days.
direct confrontation
Spain has never lost to Turkiye in the six international matches they have played since 2005.
Spain – 5 wins Torquier – 0 wins Draw – 1
Form guide:
Spain: WWWWW (UEFA World Cup Qualifiers, latest results are last)
Turkiye: WLWWW (UEFA World Cup Qualifiers, latest results are last)
spanish team news
In addition to Yamal’s absence, Spain will be without other key players Dani Carvajal, Pedri and Rodri against Torquier.
Dean Huisen also has a groin issue, so it will likely be a game-time decision for De La Fuente.
Mikel Oyarzabal, who has scored eight goals in his last eight international appearances, will be in the Spain squad again on Tuesday.
Tolkien team news
The Turkish Football Federation has officially ruled out Inter Milan midfield star Hakan Calhanoglu from the match against Spain after sustaining a wrist injury in Saturday’s last international match against Bulgaria.
Isak Vral, who has joined the team, is likely to replace Calhanoglu, who was the top scorer in Italy’s top league Serie A this season, in an attacking midfield position.
Coach Vincenzo Montella will almost certainly be without Galatasaray defender Khan Ayhan, who is highly doubtful after being substituted with a groin injury on Saturday.
Midfielder Ismail Yuksek received a second yellow card in the qualifying match against Bulgaria and will be suspended for one match.
Expected starting lineup:
Spain: Simon (goalkeeper). Polo, Kvarsi, Laporte, Cucurella. Merino, Zvimendi, Lewis. Torres, Oyarzabal, Baena
Turkiye: Chakil (goalkeeper). Çelik, Demiral, Bardakci, Kadioglu. Vral, Kochu. Aydin, Güler, Yildiz. Acturkoglu
Coaches’ comments:
de la fuente:
Spain’s head coach is not taking his side’s unbeaten status in Group E ahead of Tuesday’s game against Tolquier for granted.
“Our goal is to qualify for the (FIFA) World Cup,” he said.
“Regardless of the result at this stage, we want to win to secure our place in qualifying. That means fighting, working hard and doing things right to give us the best chance of winning.”
“It’s very difficult to win. We want to continue on our way, but one game at a time, one day at a time,” de la Fuente said.
“Sometimes it’s good to keep your feet on the ground. What this team is doing is very difficult, but we want to keep improving.”
Montella:
Turkiye’s head coach is rolling out a strong tactical game plan against Spain, but admits his team is unlikely to overtake the European champions on the points table.
“It (the match) won’t have much impact on the points table, but it’s still important for us,” he said. “I believe in the players.”
When and where will the 2026 FIFA World Cup be held?
This tournament will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The first match will be held in Mexico City on June 11th, and the final match will be held in New Jersey, USA, on July 19th.
The tournament expanded from 32 to 48 teams, making the 39-day event the longest in history.
