Group E of the 2026 UEFA World Cup Qualifiers concluded with Spain and Turkey taking center stage in an exciting clash in Seville. With plenty of back-and-forth action, neither side could pull ahead, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw, which resulted in Spain qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
With this result, although Turkey didn’t secure direct qualification for the next World Cup, they clinched a spot in the UEFA playoffs along with 15 other teams, where they’ll have to give it their all to earn a place among the world’s best.
Vincenzo Montella and his players clung to a slim hope of routing Spain in this match. In the end, that didn’t happen, but their hopes remain alive for the upcoming play-in tournament.
Meanwhile, Spain did their homework at home, finishing at the top of their group and achieving their main objective. With 16 points and an impressive goal tally, La Roja have secured their spot in the next World Cup.
Deniz Gul of Turkiye celebrates scoring his team’s first goal.
UEFA playoffs in sight
After failing to catch Spain for the top spot in Group E, Turkey must now navigate the challenging playoff route to secure their place in the upcoming World Cup. Despite a commendable effort in the group stage, the team fell just short of automatic qualification and now faces a high-stakes, single-elimination tournament against other European hopefuls.
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Chasing a third World Cup appearance
Turkey enter the World Cup playoffs with the clear goal of securing their third-ever qualification for the global tournament. Their history includes appearances in the 1954 and 2002, with the latter being a particularly memorable run where they reached the semifinals before ultimately finishing third.
