Spain Thrashes Serbia 3-0, Oyarzabal Nets Brace
Spain defeated Serbia 3-0 in a friendly match preparing for the 2026 World Cup, with Mikel Oyarzabal starring by scoring two goals and debutant Víctor Muñoz completing the rout.
La Roja Starts 2026 Strong
The Spanish national football team kicked off its World Cup year with a resounding 3-0 victory over Serbia at the Estadio de la Cerámica in Villarreal, in front of 20,482 spectators. The friendly match, played on March 27, 2026, served as the first major test in the final stretch towards the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Mikel Oyarzabal, Real Sociedad forward, was the star of the night with a brace that decided the match before halftime. The third goal came from the feet of debutant Víctor Muñoz, who needed just minutes to score his first goal for the senior national team.
Demolishing First Half
Luis de la Fuente's team started with a gala lineup: Unai Simón in goal; Llorente, Cubarsí, Laporte, and Cucurella in defense; Rodri Hernández, Pedri, and Fermín López in midfield; and Lamine Yamal, Álex Baena, and Oyarzabal in attack. The intention was clear: to test the starting eleven with the World Cup in mind.
Spain dominated from the opening whistle with quick and precise ball circulation. In the 16th minute, Oyarzabal opened the scoring with a crossed shot inside the penalty area after a collective play initiated by Álex Baena. Shortly after, Lamine Yamal came close to extending the lead with a shot that hit the post.
In the 43rd minute, Oyarzabal sealed his brace with a powerful shot from outside the area into the top corner, leaving the match practically decided before the break.
Rotations and Debut Goal
In the second half, De la Fuente took the opportunity to make seven substitutions and evaluate alternatives for the final World Cup squad. Among the changes, the debuts of Víctor Muñoz, Osasuna forward, and defender Cristhian Mosquera stood out.
Serbia temporarily improved and even scored a goal through Birmancevic, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on Cucurella. Spain regained control and, in the 72nd minute, Víctor Muñoz capped off a great combination play with a backheel pass from Ferran Torres to score the final 3-0 and celebrate his first international goal.
Heading to the World Cup with Confidence
The victory reinforces Spain's credentials as one of the main contenders for the World Cup title. The current European champion demonstrated defensive solidity—with a clean sheet—and varied offensive resources, maintaining its recognizable playing style even with rotations.
Spain is drawn in Group H of the 2026 World Cup alongside Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde, with matches scheduled in Houston, Guadalajara, Miami, and Atlanta. Before the World Cup, the team played a second friendly against Egypt and is scheduled for a final test against Peru on June 8 in Puebla, Mexico.
With figures like Rodri, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal sharing minutes for the first time since September, and with the emergence of new talents like Víctor Muñoz, De la Fuente has a deep and competitive squad. The coach has indicated that he already has 21 players practically confirmed for the final list of 26, leaving five places open to internal competition.
