Spain Are Confident, Unbeaten and Happy to Be Favourites
Most international sides shy away from the favourite tag — Spain are doing the opposite. According to The Guardian, the European champions have arrived at their World Cup 2026 training base in Chattanooga in confident mood, with players openly welcoming the expectation that comes with being the defending Euros holders.
Midfielder Rodri perhaps put it best: “I don’t think we were favourites at the Euros and we won it.” Head coach Luis de la Fuente was equally direct, asking simply: “Why can’t Spain win the World Cup?”
That confidence has a solid foundation. Spain won every single game at Euro 2024 — the first European champion to manage that — beating Croatia, Italy, Germany, France and England along the way. They are now unbeaten in 30 matches, although that figure comes with a small asterisk: they were beaten on penalties in the 2025 Nations League final. Still, it is a remarkable run by any measure. Check Spain’s latest results on our live standings.
A Squad That Has Changed, But Not That Much
Forward Mikel Oyarzabal, when asked how different this squad is from the one that lifted the Henri Delaunay Cup, offered a deadpan response: “Not much.” He has a point, even if the departures of Álvaro Morata and Dani Carvajal represent a genuine shift in the group’s dynamic.
The Guardian describes those two as part of a leadership triumvirate alongside Rodri at the Euros — Morata bringing empathy, Carvajal competitiveness, Rodri the football brain. Now Rodri holds the armband alone. “Wearing the armband is a different story,” he admitted, though he suggested others — Unai Simón, Oyarzabal and Ferran Torres — are stepping up.
Rodri also collected the Ballon d’Or in the months after the Euros, vindicating Morata’s pre-tournament claim that Spain had world-class talent others were underestimating. Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Fabián Ruiz — who has won back-to-back Champions League titles — all remain, giving the squad an embarrassment of quality. Luis Enrique, in a memorable aside, reportedly attaches the word “Potter” to Pedri’s name as a nod to his seemingly magical ability.
Goalkeeping, interestingly, may be one area of genuine competition — David Raya and Joan García were among the best keepers in England and Spain respectively this season, yet both are vying for a place.
With Spain’s opener set for Atlanta, midfielder Mikel Merino rated the squad’s collective mood at 100%. On recent evidence, it is hard to argue. Visit our World Cup 2026 hub for full coverage, tips and odds throughout the tournament.