Spain set to begin World Cup qualifiers - Just one defeat since 1993

With less than a year to go until the World Cup, Spain begin their qualifying campaign with two opening away fixtures against Bulgaria and Turkey. Despite a slightly tricky start, the group should be manageable for the champions of Europe. According to BeSoccer Pro, 'La Roja' have become a very reliable team in this competition. They have only lost one of their last 69 matches on the road to the World Cup.

That defeat came in September 2021. Under Luis Enrique, Spain fell in their first match after the European Championship, on matchday four of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. In a tough match in Sweden, 'La Roja' took the lead through Carlos Soler after just four minutes, but Alexander Isak and Viktor Claesson turned the game around (2-1). The defeat left Spain second in the group, glancing nervously towards the play-offs which they ultimately avoided.

Four years on from that Luis Enrique squad, only four players remain in De la Fuente's current squad: Unai Simon, Ferran Torres and Alvaro Morata, who started the match, as well as Rodri. Cesar Azpilicueta, Eric Garcia, Aymeric Laporte, Jordi Alba, Carlos Soler, Sergio Busquets, Koke and Gerard Moreno completed the starting eleven, while Marcos Llorente, Pablo Sarabia, Rodri and Brais Mendez were brought on as substitutes.

That slip-up is the only one in the last 69 matches in World Cup qualifying. Since 1993, when they suffered their previous defeat before the one in Sweden in 2021. That was also in a similar scenario, on that occasion in Denmark, at the end of March. A lone goal from Flemming Povlsen gave the Danes victory.

12 defeats, all away from Spain

The history of the Spain national team in World Cup qualifying has been relatively smooth. They have only suffered 12 defeats, all of which have come in away matches. On home soil, 'La Roja' remain unbeaten with 50 wins and 10 draws. It is true that it is difficult, especially in the modern era, to find many matches against European powerhouses in the preliminary phase of a World Cup, but there are some exceptions. The most recent and notable example being the great night at the Santiago Bernabeu with a 3-0 win over Italy in 2017, thanks to a masterclass from Isco Alarcon.

Beyond the defeats against Sweden (2021) and Denmark (1993), Spain had previously fallen to the Republic of Ireland in 1989, courtesy of an own goal from Michel. On the road to the 1986 World Cup, there were two defeats: against Wales (3-0) with a double from Ian Rush, and against Kenny Dalglish's Scotland (3-1). In 1977, they also lost to Romania (1-0). Before that, 'La Roja' had already been defeated by other nations.

Spain's 12 defeats in World Cup qualifying

1954 | Turkey 1-0 Spain
1957 | Scotland 4-2 Spain
1965 | Republic of Ireland 1-0 Spain
1969 | Belgium 2-1 Spain
1969 | Finland 2-0 Spain
1974 | Yugoslavia 1-0 Spain
1977 | Romania 1-0 Spain
1984 | Scotland 3-1 Spain
1985 | Wales 3-0 Spain
1989 | Republic of Ireland 1-0 Spain
1993 | Denmark 1-0 Spain
2021 | Sweden 2-1 Spain