Spain Learns Its Path at This Summer's World Cup

The Spanish Women's National Team has been placed in Group A and will face Japan, Germany, and Mali in the Group Stage. The World Cup will be held in Germany from September 4-13. Coach Miguel Méndez: "In a World Cup there are no small teams. Groups A and B seem to have a more open path to the Round of 16, but that means the next matchup will be much more demanding."

16 countries will participate in the 2026 Germany World Cup, and we now know the groups for the First Phase. Following the draw held this afternoon in Berlin, Miguel Méndez's team will face Japan, Germany, and Mali. Three national teams that arrive with different levels of international experience. Japan is a regular at major tournaments, Germany, as the host nation, will also have the boost of its home crowd, and Mali continues to gain participation and experience at the highest level.

The top three teams from each group will advance to the next round where Spain will cross paths with Group B. The first-place finishers will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while second and third-place teams will compete for a spot in the Round of 16.

Miguel Méndez's squad returns to a World Cup 8 years after securing qualification in March in Puerto Rico and will arrive at the tournament as the reigning European runners-up.
Throughout history, the Spanish Women's National Team has won 3 World medals: Bronze in 2010, Silver in 2014, and Bronze in 2018, which was their last World Cup appearance. In Germany, they will fight to win their fourth World medal and their 18th medal in history across all championships.

Miguel Méndez: "In a World Cup there are no small teams. Groups A and B seem to have a more open path to the Round of 16, but that means the next matchup will be much more demanding and could lead us to a hypothetical quarterfinal matchup against Belgium or Australia if we get that far. The approach is always the same: prepare the team in the best way possible in a year that will be different from all others, compete in every game, and let the championship place us in our final position. I have great confidence in our players, in the work we are doing, and I am sure we will compete very well."

Group A:
JAPAN
SPAIN
GERMANY
MALI

Group B
HUNGARY
SOUTH KOREA
NIGERIA
FRANCE

Group C
BELGIUM
AUSTRALIA
PUERTO RICO
TURKEY

Group D
UNITED STATES
CZECH REPUBLIC
ITALY
CHINA