Spain held by Iraq in final warm-up ahead of World Cup

Spain held by Iraq in final warm-up ahead of World CupSpain's final home match before the 2026 World Cup ended in frustration as Luis de la Fuente's side were held to a 1-1 draw by Iraq at the Riazor Stadium in La Coruña.

>With several key players rested, including Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Rodri, Spain still controlled much of the contest and looked on course for victory after taking an early lead.

>Ferran Torres continued his impressive form by finishing off a slick counter-attack in the 16th minute, racing through the middle before calmly firing beyond Iraqi goalkeeper Ahmed Basil.

>Spain dominated possession throughout the opening period and nearly doubled their advantage when Torres struck the crossbar. However, Iraq punished a rare lapse in concentration midway through the half. Merchas Doski produced a superb effort from a difficult angle on the left side of the penalty area, catching Joan Garcia off his line and finding the net to level the scores.

>The second half lacked the same intensity as both managers made numerous substitutions. Spain continued to see plenty of the ball but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against a disciplined Iraqi defence. The visitors remained organised and limited the European champions to very few meaningful chances after the break.

>While the result is unlikely to cause major concern given the experimental nature of Spain's line-up, De la Fuente will be hoping for a sharper display when La Roja face Peru in their final warm-up match before the World Cup begins. Iraq, meanwhile, can take confidence from a resilient performance against one of the tournament favourites.