European champions Spain will kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign with an away fixture against Bulgaria at the Vasil Levski National Stadium.

Spain will be eager to start the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers campaign with a win when they travel to face Bulgaria in the Group E clash at the Vasil Levski National Stadium, a group also features Turkiye and Georgia. The group winner will secure automatic qualification for the global event, while the second-placed side will head into the playoffs.

Bulgaria have not been in competitive action since failing to earn promotion in the UEFA Nations League. The Lions lost 2-1 both home and away to Ireland, and they will remain in League C when the competition returns in 2026.

Since those defeats, Bulgaria have played two friendlies, a 2-2 home draw with Cyprus and a 4-0 defeat to Greece. Their recent results suggest they could struggle against Spain, and as the lowest-ranked team in the group, they know qualifying for their first World Cup since 1998 will be an uphill task.

Spain, meanwhile, have been dominant in Europe in recent years. Despite boasting a youthful squad, they remain a force to be reckoned with. However, La Roja come into this fixture on the back of a defeat to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final.

Luis de la Fuente will be hoping his side can put that setback behind them and begin their qualifying campaign with a winning run as they chase a place at the World Cup. The visitors will undoubtedly start as overwhelming favourites in this contest. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.

Team News & Tactics

Bulgaria

Ilian Iliev does not have any major injury concerns heading into this fixture. He will be looking to start with the best possible XI to stand a chance against European champions Spain.

Against Spain, Bulgaria are expected to start with the 5-4-1 formation, where Dimitar Mitov should be in goal. It will be a back five with Nikolay Minkov and Fabian Nurnberger taking up the roles of wing-backs.

Meanwhile, Kristian Dimitrov will start alongside Aleks Petkov and Anton Nedyalkov in the heart of the defence. The trio will look to keep things tight and will be hoping Minkov and Nurnberge help them keep Spain’s star-studded attack quiet.

Kiril Despodov and Georgi Milanov will feature out wide on the flanks. While they will look to support the full-backs, their primary task will be to provide width to their attacks on the break. Meanwhile, Ilia Gruev and Stanislav Shopov will pair up in a more central role.

The duo will look to shield the backline and ensure Spain midfielders do not dominate the ball too deep in their half. In the final third, Aleksandar Kolev will lead the line for Bulgaria against Spain at the Vasil Levski National Stadium.

Probable Lineup (5-4-1): Mitov; Minkov, Dimitrov, Petkov, Nedyalkov, Nurnberger; Despodov, Shopov, Gruev, Milanov; Kolev

Spain

Gavi (knee), Fabian Ruiz (muscular), and Yeremy Pino (ankle) have all withdrawn from the squad because their respective fitness issues. As a result, Luis de la Fuente has called up Aleix Garcia and Jorge de Frutos to replace them.

Against Bulgaria, Spain will stick with the 4-3-3 formation, where Unai Simon will be in goal. Pedro Porro and Marc Cucurella will feature as the full-backs, while Robin Le Normand will pair up with Real Madrid summer signing Dean Huijsen at the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Pedri will partner with Martin Zubimendi and Dani Olmo in the centre of the park. Olmo will take up the creative role, with the other two looking to try and control the tempo of the game.

Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal could feature on the flanks, while Nico Williams could end up leading the line for Spain against Bulgaria at the Vasil Levski National Stadium on Thursday.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Simon; Porro, Le Normand, Huijsen, Cucurella; Pedri, Zubimendi, Olmo; Yamal, Williams, Oyarzabal

Key Stats

• The two teams have met on five occasions, and Spain are yet to lose in those fixtures (four wins, one draw).
• The last meeting between Bulgaria and Spain came back in November 2002, Spain won 1-0 on the night.
• Bulgaria have never kept a clean sheet against La Roja.
• Spain have featured in every single World Cup since 1978, while Bulgaria have not made it to the finals in the last six editions.
• Bulgaria are 84th in FIFA rankings, while Spain are second.

Player to Watch

Lamine Yamal

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Yamal has enjoyed a sensational start to the new season, registering two goals and three assists in just his first three league appearances. The 18-year-old winger will be eager to carry that momentum into the international break.

Given his blistering form, it would come as no surprise if he plays a decisive role in this fixture. Bulgaria are likely to find it difficult to keep Yamal quiet, with his dazzling dribbling skills and sharp eye for goal making him a constant threat.

Prediction

Bulgaria 0-3 Spain

Spain will head into this fixture as the overwhelming favourites, and given the gulf in quality between the two squads, it is hard to see Bulgaria causing an upset. The visitors boast a mix of youth and experience, with plenty of attacking options capable of unlocking even the most compact defences.

If Spain can impose their passing game early on, they should be able to control proceedings and create enough opportunities to put the match beyond Bulgaria’s reach. For the hosts, keeping things tight at the back will be crucial, but recent defensive struggles suggest they could be in for a long evening.

Bulgaria’s best chance of troubling La Roja will come through quick counter-attacks, yet their lack of cutting edge in the final third could limit their threat. The Hard Tackle predicts an easy 3-0 win for Luis de la Fuente and his charges.