World Cup 2026: Spain ex-players, fans cautiously embrace favourites tag
Key takeaways
- Euro 2024 champions will feel the pressure of a football-mad nation as they aim to clinch World Cup-Euro double in North America.
- Nadal, a commanding defender who played in the “Dream Team” for Barcelona in the 1990s under the late Johan Cruyff, told Al Jazeera that La Roja’s biggest obstacle could be the pressure from high expectations.
- “In principle, Spain is one of the favourites to win but there is considerable competition from other countries like Brazil, France and Germany,” he said.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Euro 2024 champions will feel the pressure of a football-mad nation as they aim to clinch World Cup-Euro double in North America.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Spain, already holders of the Euro 2024 title, are among the favourites to add the World Cup 2026 trophy to their collection [File: Frank Augstein/AP Photo]By Graham Keeley Published On 21 May 202621 May 2026Former Barcelona and Spanish national team player Miguel Angel Nadal believes Spain are among the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup but will face stiff competition from a small group of leading rivals when the tournament kicks off next month.
Nadal, a commanding defender who played in the “Dream Team” for Barcelona in the 1990s under the late Johan Cruyff, told Al Jazeera that La Roja’s biggest obstacle could be the pressure from high expectations.