Widely regarded as the pretournament favorites, Spain head into World Cup 2026 looking to live up to high expectations and repeat its 2010 triumph. 

La Roja have somewhat underwhelmed on soccer's biggest stage since that win in South Africa. In 2014, there was a shock group-stage knockout, followed by back-to-back round-of-16 exits in Germany and Qatar. 

The team's stunning Euro 2024 win, coupled with a dominant qualification campaign for this tournament, has nevertheless convinced many pundits that Luis de la Fuente's men are the team to beat this summer. 

How did Spain qualify? 

Spain waltzed through UEFA qualifying, topping Group E without losing a game. There was a draw at home to Turkey in its final game, which was the only minor blemish on its record.

Who is Spain's manager?  

Former Alavés boss Luis de la Fuente is now in his fourth year in what's been a fruitful spell as Spain boss so far. 

Much of Spain's recent success is credited to the ex-Athletic Bilbao defender's knack of integrating younger stars such as Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams into the first team. 

The 64-year-old has increasingly favored a direct style of play along with fluid formations and isn't afraid to make big decisions, as exemplified by not naming a single Real Madrid player in his squad for this tournament. (Although Spain's most successful club has announced the signing of Chelsea's Marc Cucurella, which will go through on July 1.)

Who is Spain's key player?  

Manchester City midfield star Rodri has had a season blighted by persistent hamstring issues, and his fitness issues at the end of the season will have been a source of serious concern for de la Fuente.

La Roja's team captain and defensive linchpin, Rodri's absence for City for large parts of the campaign likely proved a decisive factor in Pep Guardiola's side losing out to Arsenal in the race for last season's English Premier League title.

Bringing physicality and intelligence in possession, the 29-year-old will be hoping his injury woes are behind him as he looks to add a World Cup medal to the Ballon d'Or and European Championship winners' medal he claimed in 2024. 

Who is Spain's young player to watch? 

Lamine Yamal is still a teenager, but that's easy to forget as he's now something of an experienced hand on the international stage, having been part of Spain's Euro 2024 winning squad.

A key member of Barcelona's La Liga-winning season, the 18-year-old lived up to his star billing, notching up 16 goals (including a hat-trick) and 11 assists in a memorable campaign. However, much like Rodri, the precocious youngster enters this tournament amid doubts over his fitness, having been sidelined since April with a hamstring problem. 

Spain's full 2026 World Cup squad 

Goalkeepers

• Unai Simón (Athletic Club)
• David Raya (Arsenal)
• Joan García (Barcelona)

Defenders

• Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid)
• Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr)
• Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona)
• Marc Pubill (Atlético Madrid)
• Eric García (Barcelona)
• Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
• Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen) 

Midfielders

• Rodri (Manchester City)
• Martín Zubimendi (Arsenal)
• Pedri (Barcelona)
• Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Mikel Merino (Arsenal)
• Gavi (Barcelona)
• Álex Baena (Atlético Madrid)
• Dani Olmo (Barcelona)
  

Forwards

• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
• Nico Williams (Athletic Club)
• Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad)
• Ferran Torres (Barcelona)
• Yeremy Pino (Villarreal)
• Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo)
• Víctor Muñoz (Osasuna)

Spain's World Cup 2026 Group H fixture list and US TV schedule

Monday, June 15
Spain vs. Cape Verde
Kickoff: 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT
Stadium: Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta)
US TV: Fox/Telemundo 

Sunday, June 21
Spain vs. Saudi Arabia
Kickoff: 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT
Stadium: Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta)
US TV: Fox/Telemundo 

Friday, June 26
Spain vs. Uruguay
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
Stadium: Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida)
US TV: Fox/Telemundo 

How to watch the 2026 World Cup using a VPN for free

If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the World Cup action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming. 

It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds. Additionally, it can be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, providing an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. 

Read more: You Can Stream Every FIFA 2026 World Cup Match With a VPN. Here's How

However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance. 

If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions to ensure you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.

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How to livestream Spain's 2026 World Cup matches in the US

Exclusive English live broadcast rights for every World Cup 2026 match are with Fox, with games to be shown on Fox and FS1. If you don't have access to either channel in your cable lineup, there are several alternatives. A number of major live TV streaming services, such as YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV, carry both channels, but the cheapest option for most cord-cutters is the Fox One streaming app.

Fox's direct-to-consumer streaming service launched in August last year. Fox One costs $20 a month or $200 a year and gives you access to Fox's complete TV portfolio, including sports-related channels such as Fox Deportes, Fox Sports, B1G, FS1, FS2 and local Fox stations.

You can watch Fox and FS1 on Fubo via the service's $74-per-month Pro Plan. Click here to see which local channels you get in your region with Fubo. 

For $83 a month, YouTube TV's standard plan will get you Fox and FS1 along with a wide array of other channels. Plug in your ZIP code on YouTube TV's welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area.

DirecTV's MySports genre package includes access to both channels. If you're a new customer, you can get a discounted rate of $50 a month for your first two months, before the cost reverts to $70 a month. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels are available where you live.

Livestream Spain's 2026 World Cup matches in the US in Spanish 

Spanish-language broadcast rights in the US are with NBCUniversal, with Telemundo set to show 92 games, and the remaining 12 will be broadcast on Universo. All content will be available to stream on Peacock, with the service set to offer Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos sound. 

Peacock currently costs $11 per month for the ad-supported Peacock Premium plan and $17 per month for the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus plan.