Spain reach 17 world and European titles in five years after Under-20 triumph
September 28, 2026 01:50
Spain's Under-20 women's side secured the latest prize with a penalty-shootout win against Korea on Sunday, completing an overall haul of 17 world and European titles from under-17 to senior level in the last five years.
The landmark comes on the back of major senior successes: the men's team beat Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final in New Jersey to become world champions, having been European champions two years earlier in Berlin. The women's team won the 2023 Women's World Cup in Sydney, defeating England, making Spain the first nation to hold both the men's and women's World Cup titles at the same time.
KEY RECENT TITLES
- Men: World Cup (2026), European Championship (2024), Nations League (2023) and Olympic gold (2024).
- Women: World Cup (2023) and Nations League wins in 2024 and 2025.
- Youth: five Under-19 European championships (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026).
COACHING, CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT
Spain's recent surge has been linked to continuity across youth and senior programmes. Luis de la Fuente was appointed men's head coach in December 2022 and has since overseen the Nations League 2023 win, the European Championship in 2024 and the World Cup in 2026. De la Fuente, 65, had worked extensively with Spain's youth teams and Olympic side before taking the senior job; he has emphasised respect for experience, patience and focus on the next match.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague described the run as “a dominance” and “like the perfect storm,” pointing to a shared cultural approach. Former Spain midfielder Juan Mata said the current group is “not only a team for the present, but also a team for the future.”
CLUB FOOTBALL EFFECT
The national teams' success has coincided with a noticeably Spanish presence in club management: despite Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City, at least a quarter of managers starting the 2026-27 Premier League season are Spanish.