Spain and Bulgaria will meet in a pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night.
Luis de la Fuente’s side aim to extend their unbeaten streak in Group E, while Bulgaria arrives in Valladolid’s José Zorrilla Stadium with everything to play for as they fight to keep their World Cup journey alive.
Spain vs Bulgaria – Predicted lineup and team news
Spain Team News
Preparations for Spain have been complicated by a mounting injury list. Young sensation Lamine Yamal has been sidelined once again by a persistent groin issue, while Dani Olmo also misses out after sustaining a calf injury in training and subsequently returning to Barcelona for medical checks.
Defensive options have shrunk after Dean Huijsen pulled out of the squad due to a muscle problem, prompting a call-up for Aymeric Laporte. The absences of Rodri, still recovering from a hamstring strain, and long-term injury victim Gavi add to Spain’s selection headaches.
De La Fuente faces yet another setback. Ferran Torres, who featured throughout the match against Georgia, has experienced muscle fatigue post-game and has been forced to withdraw from the squad.
Nevertheless, coach De la Fuente has recalled Celta Vigo striker Borja Iglesias, giving the experienced forward a chance to make his first Spain appearance since 2023. Despite these setbacks, the Spanish boss remains confident about his team’s World Cup credentials.
The reigning European champions have made an electric start to qualifying—finding the net 11 times across three matches while keeping clean sheets throughout. Even with key players unavailable, Spain continue to showcase impressive squad depth and attacking quality, underlining the depth of talent at De la Fuente’s disposal.
Spain Predicted Lineup
Possible Spain starting XI: Simon; Porro, Le Normand, Cubarsi, Cucurella; Merino, Zubimendi, Pedri; Iglesius, Pino, Oyarzabal.
When will the match kick off?
The match will kick off at 7:45pm BST on Tuesday 14th October.
How to Watch Spain vs Bulgaria?
Supporters in the UK can catch the action live via Amazon Prime PPV.
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