Spain confirmed their direct passage to the 2026 World Cup following a lively stalemate with Turkey on home soil.
Luis de la Fuente’s group concluded the campaign at the summit of Group E, sustaining an impressive record built on five shutout victories from six outings.
The hosts seemed on course to maintain their perfect defensive run when Dani Olmo converted Marc Cucurella’s delivery inside four minutes, marking his 12th strike for the national team and his first start since March.
However, their unblemished streak unraveled shortly before the break when Deniz Gul steered the ball beyond Unai Simon to level the contest.
Turkey’s resurgence and Spain’s response
The visitors seized momentum early in the second half, turning the match around in the 54th minute through Salih Ozcan, who drilled a precise attempt into the far corner to threaten Spain’s lengthy unbeaten spell in competitive fixtures.
Yet the home side replied swiftly, with Mikel Oyarzabal tapping in after Yeremy Pino’s effort was stopped on the line, restoring equilibrium eight minutes after Turkey’s second.
Turkey required a seven-goal triumph to claim first place in the group, and although they displayed determination and energy, they were unable to surpass the European title holders.
The shared points ensured Spain remained at the top, while Turkey was left to pursue qualification through the playoffs.
Key moments and missed opportunities
Olmo twice came close to widening the gap before halftime, only to be frustrated by Altay Bayindir, who produced a pair of sharp interventions for the visiting side.
At the opposite end, Baris Yilmaz nearly delivered a spectacular moment with an overhead attempt that forced Simon into an excellent stop as the score sat at 1-1.
By the final whistle, Spain’s resilience preserved their place as group winners, though they conceded for the first and second time in the entire campaign.
With this draw, England remained the only European nation to navigate qualifying without allowing a goal.
