Spain and Bulgaria clash in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday evening.
La Roja will be looking to maintain their perfect record in Group E, while the visitors desperately need points to keep their slim World Cup hopes alive at the José Zorrilla Stadium in Valladolid.
Spain vs Bulgaria – World Cup qualifier preview and team news
- Date: Tuesday, 14th October
- Kick-off: 7:45pm BST
- Venue: Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla, Valladolid
- Referee: Daniel Siebert
- VAR: Pascal Müller
- Last meeting: Bulgaria 0-3 Spain, World Cup qualifier, 4th September 2025
Spain team news
Luis de la Fuente faces several injury concerns ahead of this crucial qualifier. Lamine Yamal has been ruled out with a recurring groin injury, with the Barcelona star missing his second consecutive international break. Dani Olmo is also absent after suffering a calf problem during training, forcing him to return to Barcelona for further assessment.
The Spanish Football Federation confirmed that Dean Huijsen was withdrawn from the squad due to a muscle injury, with Aymeric Laporte called up as his replacement. Rodri remains sidelined with a hamstring issue, while Gavi continues his recovery from a serious knee injury.
Another huge blow for De La Fuente is Ferran Torres, who has reported muscle fatigue after playing the full 90 minutes against Georgia and has withdrawn from the squad.
The manager called up veteran striker Borja Iglesias from Celta Vigo, marking a significant return for the 32-year-old who last featured for Spain two years ago. The coach emphasised that Spain remains among the World Cup favourites despite the injury setbacks.
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Bulgaria team news
Aleksandar Dimitrov makes his debut as Bulgaria’s head coach after replacing Ilian Iliev following defeats to Spain and Georgia. The 49-year-old former U21 coach has signed a two-year contract and faces an uphill battle to revive Bulgaria’s fortunes.
Bulgaria’s squad features Kiril Despodov as captain, with Dimitar Mitov from Aberdeen expected to start in goal. The team has struggled offensively, managing just one goal in their three Group E matches so far.
The Lions’ defensive record has been concerning, conceding 12 goals in three qualifying matches, including a devastating 6-1 home defeat to Turkey in Dimitrov’s first match in charge.
Form
Spain: WDWWW
De la Fuente’s side enters this fixture on an exceptional run, having won all three of their World Cup qualifiers without conceding a single goal. La Roja defeated Bulgaria 3-0 in September, followed by a commanding 6-0 victory over Turkey. They continued their perfect start with a 2-0 win over Georgia, featuring goals from Yeremy Pino and Mikel Oyarzabal.
The European champions have demonstrated remarkable consistency, scoring 11 goals across their three qualifying matches while maintaining a perfect defensive record. Their attacking depth has been evident even without key players, showcasing the strength of Spanish football’s current generation.
Bulgaria: DLLLL
Bulgaria’s form makes for grim reading, with the team winless in eight consecutive matches. Under previous coach Ilian Iliev, they suffered 3-0 defeats to both Spain and Georgia before the recent 6-1 thrashing by Turkey under new management.
The Lions have conceded 18 goals in their last five matches, highlighting severe defensive vulnerabilities. Their inability to find the net has been equally problematic, with just one goal scored in their three Group E fixtures. Dimitrov acknowledged after the Turkey defeat that his team was “outclassed” and need to improve significantly.
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Predicted lineups
Spain: Simon; Porro, Le Normand, Cubarsi, Cucurella; Merino, Zubimendi, Pedri; Iglesius, Pino, Oyarzabal
Bulgaria: Mitov; Turitsov, Dimitrov, Bozhinov, Petrov; Chochev, Stoyanov, Kraev; Petkov, Kirilov, Despodov
How to watch Spain vs Bulgaria?
UK fans can watch the game on Amazon Prime PPV.
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