Spain vs Iraq: World Cup Prep Clash Highlights Massive Class Gap

International Friendly  -  Spain VS Iraq
Match Time:05-06-2026 03:00 Friday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips

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Spain begin their 2026 World Cup preparations by hosting Iraq in a warm-up match at the Estadio Municipal de Riazor. While Spain are ranked second in the world behind France, Iraq sit much lower in 57th place, highlighting a clear gap in quality between the two sides.

Team Analysis:

Spain begin their 2026 World Cup build-up with a friendly against Iraq, as Luis de la Fuente's highly ranked side look to fine-tune their preparations after an impressive run of form. Iraq, sitting far lower in the world rankings, arrive as clear underdogs but with valuable momentum from their recent qualification campaign and competitive results.

Player Situation:

Spain are expected to be without key players such as Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Mikel Merino due to injuries, while several others may be rested after Champions League duties, opening the door for players like Marc Pubill to potentially make their debut. Iraq, meanwhile, are likely to rely on experienced captain Jalal Hassan and striker Aymen Hussein as they field a competitive side built around a mix of familiar names and European-based talent.

Result Prediction:

Even with some squad rotation, Spain still have enough depth and overall quality to comfortably handle a side ranked far below them in the world rankings. Iraq's narrow win over Andorra and Spain's strong run of form since 2024 suggest Luis de la Fuente's team should start their World Cup preparations with a confident victory.

Predicted Result: Spain 3-0 Iraq.