The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to be remembered for interesting statistical facts. A striking historical detail has emerged regarding the Spanish national team, which has reached the tournament's final.
Modern.az reports, citing foreign media, that all eight opposing countries Spain has faced in this World Cup were part of the same state, empire, or political union as Spain at some point in their history.
According to the information, the teams Spain faced in the group and play-off stages are:
- Cape Verde – was under the joint rule of Spain and Portugal during the Iberian Union in the 16th-17th centuries;
- Saudi Arabia – was considered part of the same political space as the Iberian Peninsula during the Umayyad Caliphate;
- Uruguay – was part of Spain's Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata;
- Austria – was represented in the same monarchical system as Spain during the rule of the Habsburg dynasty;
- Portugal – was subject to the Spanish crown within the framework of the Iberian Union from 1580-1640;
- Belgium – was part of the territories known as the Spanish Netherlands;
- France – had significant political influence over Spain during Napoleon's First Empire;
- Argentina – was governed as a Spanish colony for many years.
Thus, all opponents the Spanish national team has faced on its way to the World Cup final have historically been within Madrid's sphere of political influence in one form or another.
It should be noted that Spain will face Argentina in the World Cup final. Interestingly, Argentina was also once one of the largest and most strategically important colonies of the Spanish Empire.
