Spain national football team

Spain
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)La Roja (The Red One)[1]
AssociationReal Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachLuis de la Fuente
CaptainÁlvaro Morata
Most capsSergio Ramos (180)
Top scorerDavid Villa (59)
Home stadiumVarious
FIFA codeESP
First colours
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Second colours
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FIFA ranking
Current 8 Steady (20 June 2024)[2]
Highest1 (July 2008 – June 2009, October 2009 – March 2010, July 2010 – July 2011, October 2011 – July 2014)
Lowest25 (March 1998)
First international
 Spain 1–0 Denmark 
(Antwerp, Belgium; 28 August 1920)
Biggest win
 Spain 13–0 Bulgaria 
(Madrid, Spain; 22 August 1933)
Biggest defeat
 Italy 7–1 Spain 
(Amsterdam, Netherlands; 4 June 1928)
 England 7–1 Spain 
(London, England; 9 December 1931)
World Cup
Appearances16 (first in 1934)
Best resultChampions (2010)
European Championship
Appearances12 (first in 1964)
Best resultChampions (1964, 2008, 2012, 2024)
Nations League Finals
Appearances2 (first in 2021)
Best resultChampions (2023)
FIFA Confederations Cup
Appearances2 (first in 2009)
Best resultRunners-up (2013)

The Spain national football team (Spanish: Selección Española de Fútbol) has represented Spain in men's international football competitions since 1920. It is governed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain.

Spain is one of eight national teams to have been crowned world champions and has participated in a total of 16 out of 22 FIFA World Cups, winning the 2010 edition, and qualifying consistently since 1978. Spain has participated in a total of twelve out of seventeen UEFA European Championships, winning their first in 1964, and are the current European champions, having won a record fourth title in 2024. After their victory in the 2023 UEFA Nations League they became the second national team, following France, to win three major titles (World Cup, European Championship and Nations League). Spain is also one of only two nations to have won both women's and men's World Cups, alongside Germany.[4]

Having won one World Cup and three European Championship titles since 2008, Spain is the most successful European team of the 21st century. The team's achievements from 2008 to 2012 have led many experts and commentators to consider this era's squads one of the best ever teams in football history.[5][6][7][8][9] During this period, Spain became the first national team to win three consecutive major titles, including two back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012, while becoming the first European team to win a World Cup held outside of Europe.[10] From 2008 to 2013, Spain won the FIFA Team of the Year, the second-most of any nation, behind only Brazil.[11] From the start of 2007 to the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, Spain achieved 35 consecutive undefeated matches, a feat which they shared with Brazil, and a record for the sport at the time.[12]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference roja was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  3. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Spain joined Germany as the only two nations to win both men's and women's World Cups". elpais.com. 21 August 2023. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Euro 2012: Are Spain the best team of all time?". BBC Sport. BBC. Archived from the original on 5 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Klinsmann: Spain win over Italy would make them team of century". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  7. ^ "The greatest team of all time: Brazil 1970 v Spain 2012". The Independent. 3 July 2012. Archived from the original on 10 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  8. ^ "Why this Spain side is all-time best". ESPN. Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Spain have reached end of an era, but their gift will not be forgotten – they forced all countries to raise their game". Telegraph. 19 April 2014. Archived from the original on 22 June 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  10. ^ "Are Spain the greatest international team of all time?". Goal. 2 July 2012. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Spain dominate the decade: national-team winners". UEFA. 26 December 2019. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Spain's 35 match unbeaten run". reuters.com. 20 June 2009.

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