Spain 1-1 Iraq Highlights, International Friendly: Nothing To Separate Both Sides, Match Ends In Draw

Good evening, everyone. We are building up to the start of the friendly fixture between Spain and Iraq. Watch this space for live updates!

Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026

Kick-off Time: 12:30 AM IST (June 5) / 8:00 PM local time (June 4)

Venue: Abanca-Riazor Stadium, La Coruña, Spain

Context: This match serves as Spain's final home friendly before they depart for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For Iraq, it is a significant opportunity to test their squad against European opposition after qualifying for their first World Cup since 1986.

Spain heads into the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the tournament's primary title favorites, bolstered by a blend of tactical maturity and high-impact young talent. As reigning UEFA EURO 2024 champions, La Roja has demonstrated a near-flawless level of control and cohesion. Manager Luis de la Fuente has successfully refined the team’s traditional possession-based identity, incorporating more verticality and attacking intensity. This tactical evolution, paired with a perfect qualifying record—marked by dominant victories and a robust defensive structure—has established Spain as one of the most complete and in-form squads participating in the global finals in North America.

The team’s roster is anchored by world-class leaders like Rodri, who provides stability and vision, and features the creative brilliance of Pedri in midfield. The squad's standout individual is undoubtedly 18-year-old superstar Lamine Yamal, whose dynamic flair has made him one of the most anticipated performers of the tournament. Despite minor injury concerns leading into the opening matches, the depth of the 26-man squad—which includes a balance of experienced veterans and rising stars like Pau Cubarsí—gives De la Fuente significant flexibility to navigate the tournament’s demands.

Drawn into Group H, Spain is set to begin its campaign against Cabo Verde on June 15 at the Atlanta Stadium, followed by fixtures against Saudi Arabia on June 21 and Uruguay on June 26. While Spain has not progressed beyond the Round of 16 since their historic 2010 World Cup title, the current iteration of the team is widely tipped to break that cycle and contend for the trophy. With oddsmakers consistently ranking them at the top of the field, there is immense optimism that Spain’s "Golden Generation" is ready to claim its second world title.

Joan Garcia; Pedro Porro, Jon Martin, Aymeric Laporte, Alex Grimaldo; Gavi, Marc Bernal; Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena; Borja Iglesias.

Ahmed Basil; Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Akam Hashim, Merchas Doski; Amir Al-Ammari, Zaid Ismael; Marko Farji, Ibrahim Bayesh, Ali Jasim; Ali Al-Hamadi.

Liverpool hired Andoni Iraola as manager on Thursday, turning to the former Bournemouth coach whose intense and heavy-pressing playing approach resembles the ideology that brought the team so much success under former Anfield favorite Jurgen Klopp.

The 43-year-old Spaniard, who has signed a deal for an undisclosed length, left his job at Bournemouth at the end of the recently completed season after a three-year spell that boosted his reputation.

The atmosphere at the Estadio Abanca-Riazor is electric as the two sides conclude their pre-match formalities. The national anthems have echoed through the stadium—Spain’s rendition notably accompanied by the stirring sound of bagpipes—and the captains have completed the coin toss.

German referee Florian Badstübner has officially sounded the whistle to get proceedings underway. The hosts, Spain, have kicked off, beginning their final warm-up test before embarking on their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. Both teams are looking to establish early control in this highly anticipated friendly clash.

Spain continues to demonstrate their attacking fluidity, shifting gears rapidly to catch their opponents off-guard. In a recent transition, Álex Baena found himself in substantial space on the left flank after being picked out by a crisp diagonal pass. The versatile attacker wasted no time, cutting inside onto his preferred right foot to whip a dangerous effort toward the far corner. However, the opposition goalkeeper was equal to the challenge, diving sharply to his right to palm the ball behind for a corner, denying what looked like a certain goal. Spain's ability to exploit space and transition with pace remains a hallmark of their play as they refine their attacking patterns.

The opening goal arrived in the 15th minute through a devastating counter-attack. A clever dummy from Borja Iglesias allowed a forward pass from Dani Olmo to find Ferran Torres just inside the Iraqi half. The Spanish captain drove purposefully into the heart of the visitors' defense before unleashing a precise reverse shot that squeezed past Iraqi goalkeeper Ahmed Basil and into the net to put La Roja ahead.

Facing a one-goal deficit is a familiar challenge for this Iraqi side, which has built its reputation on defying adversity. Their journey to this stage—and to the World Cup itself—has been anything but straightforward.

During their recent intercontinental play-off against Bolivia, the team faced extreme logistical hurdles due to regional instability. With Iraqi airspace closed, the squad endured a grueling 43-hour journey to reach Monterrey, Mexico. The ordeal involved a 15-hour bus ride to the Jordanian border, followed by a taxing series of flights through Lisbon. Despite this exhaustion and significant travel disruptions, the team rallied to secure a 2–1 victory, clinching the final spot in the 2026 World Cup and ending a 40-year wait to return to the tournament stage.

Shock in A Coruña! Iraq has stunned the European champions, equalizing against the run of play to make it 1–1 at the Estadio Abanca-Riazor.

The goal came from an unlikely source, marking a career milestone for the Iraqi defender. After a precise long ball from Hussein Ali Hashim bypassed the Spanish defensive line, left-back Merchas Doski latched onto the pass. Finding himself in an advanced position, Doski spotted a narrow gap at Joan Garcia's near post and took a speculative strike. The ball took a fortunate, looping trajectory that completely deceived the Spanish goalkeeper, nestling into the net to level the score.

It is a truly remarkable moment for Doski, who has netted his first-ever senior international goal on the biggest stage against a European powerhouse.

Spain remains on the offensive, immediately looking to reclaim the lead following Iraq's shock equalizer. In a swift response, Dani Olmo expertly exploited a gap in the Iraqi backline, successfully springing the offside trap to latch onto a through ball. However, with the angle tightening quickly, his first-time strike was met with a resolute block from Iraqi goalkeeper Ahmed Basil, who has kept the scores level.

Spain is turning up the pressure in their search for a second goal, coming agonizingly close to reclaiming the lead at the Abanca-Riazor.

Following an initial cross into the box that Iraq failed to clear decisively, the ball fell kindly to Ferran Torres on the edge of the penalty area. The Spanish skipper wasted no time, lining up a powerful drive that looked destined for the top corner. Iraqi goalkeeper Ahmed Basil produced a moment of brilliance, getting a crucial touch to the fierce effort to tip it onto the crossbar.

The offside flag has become a frequent antagonist at the Estadio Abanca-Riazor, as both sides look to exploit high defensive lines in a search for the go-ahead goal.

The game’s tactical battle has turned into a high-stakes chess match. Iraq nearly shocked the hosts again when Ali Al-Hamadi latched onto a searching long ball from Merchas Doski; however, his sprint toward goal was cut short by the linesman’s flag. Spain quickly sought to respond with a moment of individual brilliance, as a clever flick from Dani Olmo aimed to release Borja Iglesias in behind the Iraqi defense. The move ultimately came to nothing, however, as Iglesias was also flagged for offside after being beaten to the ball by a well-positioned covering defender.

With the score level at 1–1, both teams continue to gamble on high-risk, high-reward attacking transitions. The pressure is mounting as they head toward the final moments of the first half.

Despite Spain dominating the proceedings at the Estadio Abanca-Riazor, the score remains locked at 1–1 heading into the break.

The European champions controlled large portions of the opening 45 minutes, enjoying the lion's share of possession. This dominance was rewarded in the 16th minute when Ferran Torres capped off a clinical counter-attacking move to put La Roja 1–0 ahead.

However, Iraq has proven to be a dangerous, albeit opportunistic, opponent. Against the run of play, in the 27th minute, Merchas Doski capitalized on a rare defensive lapse, catching goalkeeper Joan Garcia off-guard from a tight angle to equalize.

While Iraq has been statistically second-best—recording only 28% possession and a low xG of 0.07—they have demonstrated remarkable defensive discipline and a constant threat on the break. Coach Graham Arnold will likely be pleased with his side's resilience and their clinical edge in front of goal, viewing this as a successful test of their tactical adaptability against world-class opposition. Spain, meanwhile, will be looking to sharpen their finishing as they continue to refine their setup for the upcoming World Cup.

The second half at the Estadio Abanca-Riazor begins with a significant overhaul from both sides as managers look to test their depth ahead of the World Cup. Spain has introduced five fresh faces, with Eric Garcia replacing Aymeric Laporte in defense, Yeremy Pino taking over for Alejandro Grimaldo on the flank, and Sergio Gomez stepping in for captain Ferran Torres. Notably, Gonzalo Garcia makes his senior international debut for Dani Olmo, while Rodriguez replaces Borja Iglesias as the focal point of the attack. Iraq has responded with two tactical adjustments of their own, bringing in Aymen Hussein to lead the line in place of Ali Al-Hamadi and introducing Hassan to replace Ahmed Basil in goal. With the scoreline locked at 1–1, these substitutions set the stage for an intriguing second half as both teams strive to gain the upper hand.

The second half has seen a continuous wave of substitutions from both benches as coaches Luis de la Fuente and Graham Arnold utilize these final moments to test their squad depth. Spain has bolstered their defensive and creative options by introducing Marc Pubill for Jon Martin in central defense and Javi Guerra for Gavi in the midfield. Iraq has mirrored this activity with an extensive series of tactical changes: goalscorer Merchas Doski has been replaced by Yahya, and the visitors have refreshed their entire spine with the introductions of Hussein Haydar, Kevin Yakob, Munaf Younus, and Rebin Ghareeb, while also bringing on Zidane Iqbal and Zaid Ismael to bolster the middle of the park. As both teams integrate these new personnel, the match intensity remains high, with both sides pushing to break the 1–1 deadlock in this final stretch of their World Cup preparation.

Spain continues to push for a late winner as the match enters its closing stages, with Álex Baena creating a dangerous opportunity down the right flank. Baena found enough space to whip a fierce, inviting cross into the penalty area, where debutant Gonzalo Garcia arrived at the near post to meet it. However, the Iraqi goalkeeper, Hassan, did just enough to pressure the forward, forcing him off-balance and preventing a clean connection, as the visitors’ defense holds firm to maintain the 1–1 deadlock at the Estadio Abanca-Riazor.

As the clock ticks down, both managers have utilized their final substitutions in a chaotic end to the contest. Spain has made a series of changes, with Mikel Merino making a welcome return from injury by replacing the industrious Álex Baena, while Javi Rodríguez and goalkeeper Leo Román have entered the pitch for Pedro Porro and Joan García, respectively. Iraq has been forced into an unfortunate tactical adjustment after Ahmed Yahya, who had only been on the field for 11 minutes, was forced off with an injury; he has been replaced by Mustafa Saadoon. With these fresh faces now settled in, both sides are making one final push to break the 1–1 deadlock in these closing minutes.

Spain’s dominance in terms of volume has been undeniable, with the home side racking up 13 attempts compared to Iraq’s two. Despite this overwhelming statistical edge, the European champions remain deadlocked at 1–1. On the touchline, a clearly animated Luis de la Fuente has been visibly frustrated by his side’s inability to convert their heavy possession into a winning advantage. Having famously described his close-knit squad as a "family," the manager’s demeanor reflects the high standards he expects as they look to put the finishing touches on their preparations for the upcoming World Cup. As the final minutes tick away, the pressure is on La Roja to find a breakthrough against a remarkably resilient Iraqi side that has frustrated them for the duration of this match.

It finishes all square at the Estadio de Riazor, where Spain has been held to a frustrating 1–1 draw by a gritty Iraq side. Despite Spain commanding the match with an xG of 1.36 compared to Iraq’s 0.15, they were unable to turn their dominance into a victory.

The hosts controlled the tempo early, rightfully taking the lead in the 16th minute when captain Ferran Torres finished a swift counter-attack with clinical precision. However, Iraq silenced the crowd just 11 minutes later; against the run of play, Merchas Doski caught goalkeeper Joan Garcia off-guard with a clever finish from a tight angle to equalize.

The second half saw Spain push relentlessly, with substitutes Jesus Rodriguez and debutant Gonzalo Garcia coming close to restoring the lead. Despite the pressure, Iraq’s defense remained resolute, frustrating the European champions to hold onto the draw.

This result marks a second consecutive stalemate for Luis de la Fuente’s side, following their goalless draw against Egypt. Spain will now shift their focus to their final World Cup warm-up against Peru in Mexico this coming Monday. Meanwhile, Iraq looks to build on this impressive performance when they face Venezuela in Illinois on Tuesday.