Spain kicked off their World Cup 2026 qualification campaign with an emphatic 3-0 win in Bulgaria on Thursday.
The Euro 2024 champions eased to a comfortable victory at the Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia with first-half goals from Mikel Oyarzabal, Marc Cucurella and Mikel Merino.
Spain kicked off their World Cup 2026 qualification campaign with an emphatic 3-0 win in Bulgaria on Thursday.
The Euro 2024 champions eased to a comfortable victory at the Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia with first-half goals from Mikel Oyarzabal, Marc Cucurella and Mikel Merino.
Spain, who won the World Cup for the first and only time in 2010, are expected to top Group E which also contains Turkey and Georgia, to reach the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico directly.
This was the first time Spain have faced Bulgaria in more than 20 years, with the last competitive meeting at the 1998 World Cup.
That ended in a 6-1 rout but despite roaring into a healthy lead in Bulgaria, Spain could not keep the goals flowing.
“We are incredibly demanding, (the players) most of all — they were disappointed with the second half,” said De la Fuente.
Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi set up his former Real Sociedad team-mate Oyarzabal for the opener with a fine pass as Spain took the lead after five minutes.
Radoslav Kirilov hit the post for the hosts before Chelsea defender Cucurella thumped in to double Spain’s lead after the ball dropped into his path. It was the left-back’s first goal for his country.
“It landed for me, I controlled it and then I hit it, I’m very happy to score my first for Spain,” said Cucurella.
