Published On 7/6/2026
The Portuguese national team only managed to achieve one victory in 12 official matches against Spain in various tournaments (6 draws, 5 defeats), and this victory came with a score of 1-0 in the group stage of the European Nations Cup in 2004, with a goal by Nuno Gomez.
At the level of major tournaments (the World Cup and the European Nations Cup), the two teams met five times, three of which ended in a draw, while each team won.
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This series included a dramatic 3-3 draw in the 2018 World Cup, in addition to a goalless draw in the Euro semi-finals in 2012, before Spain won qualification on penalties 4-2.
Portuguese ambition to write history
The Portuguese national team is seeking to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the fourth time in its history, and for the first time in two successive editions, but it has not succeeded in achieving two consecutive victories in the qualifying rounds since 2006, when it beat the Netherlands in the quarter-finals and then beat England on penalties in the quarter-finals.
Unprecedented Spanish defensive solidity
Spain kept a clean sheet in its first four matches during a single World Cup for the first time in its history, becoming the first European team to achieve this feat since Switzerland in 2006.
As the series continues without conceding goals since the 2022 edition, the Spanish national team may become the first team in the history of the World Cup to keep a clean sheet in six consecutive matches.
Spanish superiority in numbers and statistical analysis
Spain’s average expected goal difference at the 2026 World Cup is +1.80 per game (2.0 for them, 0.2 for him), the best by a European team beyond the group stage since France in 1998 (+1.82).
In contrast, Portugal averages 1.60 expected goals per match, the best average for the team since the 2014 edition (1.7).
The Spanish national team also did not suffer any defeat in the last 34 matches in all tournaments (25 wins and 9 draws), approaching its historical record (35 matches between 2007 and 2009). The only European team with a longer streak without losing is Italy (37 matches between 2018 and 2021).
De La Fuente has an exceptional record
Coach Luis de la Fuente was unbeaten in his first 11 matches in major tournaments (10 wins and one draw), conceding only four goals.
He is close to equaling the record held by Aime Jacquet and Louis van Gaal as the coaches who have maintained the most unbeaten record in their first 12 matches in the World Cup and the European Nations Cup.
