Spain's record in FIFA World Cup quarter-finals: Wins, losses and complete history
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La Roja will be playing in their sixth quarter-final of the FIFA World Cup.
Spain progressed to the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals after beating Portugal, bringing them one step closer to matching a remarkable defensive record.
La Roja have surrendered only two goals in this tournament, matching the record achieved by the World Cup winners of 1998, 2006, and 2010.
Spain are pursuing their second FIFA World Cup victory. In addition to reaching the quarterfinals, they are putting together a campaign that is drawing parallels to some of the best teams in World Cup history.
A thrilling 1-0 victory over Portugal, capped by Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time goal, kept La Roja’s title chances alive while putting the squad closer to a previously unattainable defensive milestone.
Spain’s record in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup
Spain’s record in the quarter-finals has been poor. They have barely won any games whenever they have secured a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
- Appearances: 5
- Wins: 1
- Defeats: 4
1. 1934: Spain 0-1 Italy
Spain advanced to the quarterfinals of the 1934 FIFA World Cup in Italy. After beating Brazil 3-1 in the Round of 16, they were ousted by the host country and eventual winners, Italy. A very physical 1-1 draw and a subsequent 1-0 replay loss.
2. 1986: Spain 1-1 (4-5pen) Belgium
Spain advanced to the quarterfinals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. They were ousted by Belgium in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
The game was played on June 22, 1986, in Puebla’s Estadio Cuauhtémoc. After Belgium’s Jan Ceulemans took the lead, Juan Antonio Señor of Spain equalised. After extra time, the match was decided by penalties.
Eloy Olaya squandered La Roja’s sole penalty, while Belgium netted all five to advance.
3. 1994: Spain 1-2 Italy
La Roja’s competition finished with a 2–1 loss against Italy. Dino Baggio gave Italy an early lead before Spain’s Caminero equalised. However, Roberto Baggio scored the game-winning goal for Italy in the 88th minute.
The game is also noteworthy for a disputed stoppage-time affair. Spanish midfielder Luis Enrique received a bloodied nose inside the penalty box from Mauro Tassotti’s elbow, which went unpunished.
4. 2002: South Korea 0-0 (5-3 pens) Spain
The quarter-final encounter versus co-hosts South Korea in Gwangju remains one of the most contentious in World Cup history. Despite dominating possession, La Roja had two disputed goals rejected by referees—one in regular time and a golden goal in extra time.
The match finished 0-0. South Korea won the penalty shootout 5-3, eliminating La Roja and progressing to the semi-finals.
5. 2010: Spain 1-0 Paraguay
In 2010, La Roja celebrated their first and only FIFA World Cup title in South Africa. Vicente del Bosque managed them. They memorably lost their first group game against Switzerland before winning all of their following games.
Andrés Iniesta won the team the title with his stunning 116th-minute goal against the Netherlands in the final.
When was the last time La Roja reached the FIFA World Cup quarter-final?
In 2010.
When was the last time La Roja faced Belgium in a FIFA World Cup quarter-final?
In 1986.
When was the last time La Roja won a quarter-final game in the FIFA World Cup?
In 2010.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.