Spain moved to the brink of securing their place at the 2026 World Cup after a commanding 4-0 victory over Georgia in Tbilisi in their Group E qualifier.
A double from Mikel Oyarzabal, combined with goals from Martin Zubimendi and Ferran Torres, cemented Spain’s dominant position. Luis de la Fuente’s side sits three points clear at the top of the group with one match remaining.
The 2010 world champions, who top FIFA’s world rankings, took control from the start. Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 11th minute after a handball by Giorgi Gocholeishvili.
Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi doubled the lead just 11 minutes later, lifting a finish over Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili. Former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres effectively ended the contest before half-time, turning in a pass from Oyarzabal to make it 3-0.
The pair combined again in the 63rd minute, with Torres providing a curling cross for Oyarzabal to head home his second and Spain’s fourth.
The victory continues Spain’s perfect qualifying campaign. They have won all five of their matches, scoring 19 goals and conceding none.
Spain would have confirmed automatic qualification on the day had second-placed Turkey dropped points against Bulgaria. However, Turkey secured a 2-0 victory, courtesy of a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty and an Atanas Chernev own goal.
Despite that result, Spain remains in an unassailable position. They host Turkey in Sevilla on Tuesday, holding a vastly superior goal difference, 14 goals better than their rivals. Only a loss by a seven-goal margin—an almost mathematical impossibility—would deny Spain their automatic spot at the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
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