Spain enters the 2026 World Cup as one of the tournament favorites, buoyed by their status as reigning European champions and a talented, confident squad. The team, led by coach Luis de la Fuente, will open their campaign in the United States facing Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay in Group H.

Despite their recent success, Spain has struggled in World Cup knockout stages over the past decade. Since Andres Iniesta’s winning goal in the 2010 final, La Roja have not won a World Cup knockout match. Their aging squad, which dominated European football in 2008 and 2012, failed to progress beyond the group stage in 2014 and was eliminated in the round of 16 in both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. However, the current generation, highlighted by rising talents such as Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, is eager to build on their Euro 2024 triumph and break this pattern.

A key figure in Spain’s setup is Bayer Leverkusen left-back Alex Grimaldo, who expressed strong belief in the team’s prospects. “I see us as favourites,” Grimaldo said ahead of his first World Cup appearance. He emphasized the team's unbeaten streak in competitive matches (excluding penalty shootouts), which has extended to 31 games since March 2023, and the importance of preparation and focus for the opening game against Cape Verde.

Grimaldo’s rise to prominence has been notable. Having developed at Barcelona’s La Masia academy, he moved to Benfica in search of regular playing time before transferring to Bayer Leverkusen in 2023. His impact in Germany has been significant, as he played a starring role in Leverkusen’s first Bundesliga title and their league and cup double under Xabi Alonso’s management during the 2023/24 season. Over three seasons, Grimaldo has scored 30 goals and provided 45 assists from left-back, underscoring his offensive threat.

Renowned for his set-piece ability, Grimaldo boasts six goals from free kicks in Europe’s top five leagues over the past three seasons—a tally surpassed only by Lionel Messi, in his own estimation. The 30-year-old identified his preferred free-kick range at around 25 meters, highlighting his precision and confidence on dead-ball situations.

Despite his form, Grimaldo faces competition for the national team’s left-back position, primarily from Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, who has more experience in La Liga and the English Premier League, leagues favored by national team selectors. Grimaldo acknowledged the challenge of playing outside Spain and England but remains hopeful about a future return to domestic football.

For now, Grimaldo’s focus—and that of the Spanish squad—is clear: to advance beyond past World Cup limitations and ultimately bring the trophy back home.