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Spain

2 articles

Analysis

Spain's rise is real, but Lamine Yamal is holding it together

Spain climbed from 10th to 2nd in the FIFA rankings in 18 months. The question heading into the 2026 tournament is whether that ascent belongs to a rebuilt system or to one teenager.

30 Apr 2026 · 5 min read
Spain's rise is real, but Lamine Yamal is holding it together

More on Spain

Lamine Yamal's World Cup narrative is outrunning his tournament record
Opinion

Lamine Yamal's World Cup narrative is outrunning his tournament record

Social discourse has already written Lamine Yamal's 2026 tournament arc. Spain's structural depth tells a more complicated — and more honest — story.

30 Apr 2026