With Spain regarded as the leading contender to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, La Roja will aim to follow up their run to the Euro 2020 semi-finals.
Luis Enrique has revitalized his squad over the last 18 months, and they look set to return to the established powerhouses of international football in Qatar.
With the addition of Barcelona duo Pedri and Gavi, the newness has been added to the squad with the experience of Cesar Azpilicueta, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Koke.
Spain’s dominance from 2008 to 2012 has raised the bar for expectations at major tournaments, but Enrique’s men look ready to take on the challenge.
How many times has Spain won the World Cup?
Spain’s glory in South Africa in 2010 won the World Cup for the first time in decades after failing to reach the quarter-finals on the world stage.
Vicente del Bosque built on Luis Aragonés’ success at Euro 2008 when his Barcelona-dominated side beat the Netherlands in the final.
In a tense match, Andres Iniesta’s extra-time strike gave Spain a 1-0 win, becoming the eighth team in history to win the World Cup.
The final was also notable for the physical, and controversial, nature of the game, with referee Howard Webb awarded a total of 14 yellow cards, and Johnny Hettinga a red card.
History of Spain World Cup
Spain’s World Cup record began to improve after hosting the 1982 tournament, but the rolling average between the round of 16 and the quarterfinals frustrated fans before 2010.
Their win in 2010 was seen as a great moment with all their key players peaking at the ideal time, with Barcelona confident of a clean sweep of the domestic and European titles, with Del Bosque finally getting them over the line.
Spain’s World Cup record
| World Cup Year | Stage Reached | Record (W-D-L) | Goals Scored |
| 1930 | DNE* | – | – |
| 1934 | Quarterfinals | 1-1-1 | 4 |
| 1938 | DNE | – | – |
| 1950 | Fourth Place | 3-1-2 | 10 |
| 1954 | DNQ** | – | – |
| 1958 | DNQ | – | – |
| 1962 | Group Stage | 1-0-2 | 2 |
| 1966 | Group Stage | 1-0-2 | 4 |
| 1970 | DNQ | – | – |
| 1974 | DNQ | – | – |
| 1978 | Group Stage | 1-1-1 | 2 |
| 1982 | Second Group Stage | 1-2-2 | 4 |
| 1986 | Quarterfinals | 3-1-1 | 11 |
| 1990 | Round of 16 | 2-1-1 | 6 |
| 1994 | Quarterfinals | 2-2-1 | 10 |
| 1998 | Group Stage | 1-1-1 | 8 |
| 2002 | Quarterfinals | 3-2-0 | 10 |
| 2006 | Round of 16 | 3-0-1 | 9 |
| 2010 | Won | 6-0-1 | 8 |
| 2014 | Group Stage | 1-0-2 | 4 |
| 2018 | Round of 16 | 1-3-0 | 7 |
*Did not enter
** Did not qualify