Spain appears formidable as they prepare for the World Cup final, having secured a 2-0 win against France. This victory marks an impressive 37-match unbeaten streak in normal and extra time, a record that ties for the longest such stretch by any European team, as noted by Opta. However, it is important to remember that Spain did suffer a loss to Portugal in the 2025 Nations League final, which ended in penalties.
This current unbeaten run mirrors the success of Italy, who went without defeat between October 2018 and September 2021, a period that included their Euro 2020 triumph. Unlike Spain, Italy’s streak was truly unbeaten, making their achievement unique.
No South American team has matched this level of consistency. Brazil had a remarkable 36-match unbeaten run from December 1993 to January 1996, during which they won a World Cup, while Argentina equaled this record from July 2019 to November 2022. Despite a shocking defeat to Saudi Arabia in Qatar that interrupted their streak, Argentina’s swift recovery to claim the title showcased their resilience.
Spain’s journey to this stage is no surprise given their rich footballing history. They have been the architects behind six of the eleven instances where a European nation has remained unbeaten for at least 25 games. Remarkably, five of these streaks have occurred in the past 22 years, underscoring Spain’s dominance in international football.
The team boasts players with impressive records. Fabián Ruiz has achieved 49 international appearances without a loss (excluding shootouts). Despite showcasing his elite talent in recent years, Ruiz does not rank among the top five players in terms of minutes played during Spain’s current unbeaten stretch.
Leading the charge is Marc Cucurella, supported by Unai Simón, Aymeric Laporte, Lamine Yamal, and Mikel Oyarzabal, who form the core group that coach Luis de la Fuente relies upon the most.
In total, the Spain manager has fielded 62 players throughout the 37 matches, highlighting the depth of talent available. This could also indicate a level of indecisiveness on De la Fuente’s part. However, among the 15 players who have made at least 20 appearances during this unbeaten run, ten started in the World Cup semi-final, with four entering as substitutes and Martín Zubimendi available on the bench.
The current unbeaten streak was ignited by a 1-0 defeat to Colombia at the London Stadium in March 2024. This run includes victories not only against lesser European teams during qualifiers but also 11 matches against top-tier nations such as Brazil, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal.
Argentina currently sits with an unbeaten record of 14 matches, having won every single one. However, they have experienced three losses since Spain last faced defeat. The recent historical context certainly favors De la Fuente’s squad.
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