Spain's Pedri, center, celebrates after his team's goal during the World Cup Group E qualifying soccer match between Bulgaria and Spain in Sofia, Bulgaria.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Spain Thump Bulgaria 3-0
European champion Spain took an early lead with Mikel Oyarzabal’s fifth-minute goal and eased to a 3-0 win over Bulgaria in both teams’ opening qualifying game. Marc Cucurella and Mikel Merino scored to extend Spain’s lead. Spain, who won the World Cup for the first and only time in 2010, are expected to top Group E, which also contains Turkiye and Georgia, to reach the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico directly.
UEFA FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Bulgaria vs Spain
| Photo: AP/Tony Uzunov
Spain's Pedri, left, and Bulgaria's Aleksandar Kolev battle for the ball during the World Cup Group E qualifying soccer match between Bulgaria and Spain in Sofia, Bulgaria.
UEFA FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Bulgaria vs Spain
| Photo: AP/Tony Uzunov
Spain's Lamine Yamal cuts in on Bulgaria's Marin Petkov during the World Cup Group E qualifying soccer match between Bulgaria and Spain in Sofia, Bulgaria.
UEFA FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Bulgaria vs Spain
| Photo: AP/Tony Uzunov
Spain's fans celebrate during the World Cup Group E qualifying soccer match between Bulgaria and Spain in Sofia, Bulgaria.
UEFA FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Bulgaria vs Spain
| Photo: AP/Tony Uzunov
Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal, right, and Bulgaria's Kristian Dimitrov battle for the ball during the World Cup Group E qualifying soccer match between Bulgaria and Spain in Sofia, Bulgaria.
UEFA FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Bulgaria vs Spain
| Photo: AP/Tony Uzunov
Spain's Lamine Yamal dribbles ahead of Bulgaria's Aleksandar Kolev (9) during the World Cup Group E qualifying soccer match between Bulgaria and Spain in Sofia, Bulgaria.
UEFA FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Bulgaria vs Spain
| Photo: AP/Tony Uzunov
Spain's Mikel Merino celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup Group E qualifying soccer match between Bulgaria and Spain in Sofia, Bulgaria.
UEFA FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Bulgaria vs Spain
| Photo: AP/Tony Uzunov
Spain's Alejandro Grimaldo, left, and Bulgaria's Radoslav Kirilov battle for the ball during the World Cup Group E qualifying soccer match between Bulgaria and Spain in Sofia, Bulgaria.
UEFA FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Bulgaria vs Spain
| Photo: AP/Tony Uzunov
Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal, right, and Lamine Yamal celebrate their first goal during the World Cup Group E qualifying soccer match between Bulgaria and Spain in Sofia, Bulgaria.
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