Spain Held by Iraq in World Cup Warm-Up as De la Fuente Rotates Squad

European champions Spain were held to a 1-1 draw by Iraq in an international friendly in A Coruna on Thursday, as coach Luis de la Fuente opted to rest several key players ahead of the team’s final World Cup preparation match.

The result provided Spain with a challenging test before departing for North America, where they will continue their preparations with a friendly against Peru in Puebla, Mexico, on Monday before beginning their World Cup campaign.

De la Fuente named a heavily rotated side, leaving out several first-choice players due to fitness concerns. Among those absent were rising star Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Pedri, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Martin Zubimendi, Marc Cucurella, Mikel Oyarzabal, David Raya and Victor Munoz.

With many regular starters unavailable, Spain struggled to replicate the fluid attacking football that helped them capture the 2024 European Championship title. Iraq, organized and disciplined throughout the match, frustrated the hosts with a compact defensive setup that limited space and prevented Spain from establishing a consistent rhythm.

Spain made the breakthrough in the 16th minute through Ferran Torres. The forward launched a swift counterattack from midfield, driving directly through the center before entering the penalty area and calmly finishing past the Iraqi goalkeeper to give the home side an early advantage.

The lead lasted only 11 minutes as Iraq responded with a moment of individual brilliance. Merchas Doski collected the ball near the left edge of the penalty area and unleashed a powerful left-footed effort from a difficult angle. The shot sailed over goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who had moved slightly off his line, before dropping into the net to level the score at 1-1 in the 27th minute.

Spain attempted to regain control of the match before halftime and came close to restoring their lead when Torres struck the crossbar in the 40th minute. Despite enjoying the majority of possession, the hosts found clear scoring opportunities difficult to create against an Iraqi side that remained compact and disciplined in defense.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Spain controlling the ball but struggling to break down their opponents. Iraq continued to defend effectively while posing occasional threats on the counterattack, securing a confidence-boosting draw against one of Europe’s strongest national teams.

For Spain, the match served as a useful opportunity to assess squad depth ahead of the World Cup. The team will now turn its attention to Monday’s friendly against Peru before opening its Group H campaign, where it will face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.

Iraq, meanwhile, can take encouragement from the performance as it prepares for only its second World Cup appearance. The team is set to compete in Group I alongside France, Senegal and Norway.