Preview:Turkey vs Spain - prediction, team news, lineups

Spain will be aiming to make it successive wins at the start of their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign when they take on Turkey in an intriguing match-up in Group E on Sunday night.

La Roja started their campaign with a 3-0 success over Bulgaria on Thursday, while their hosts were victorious on the same evening, coming out on top in a five-goal thriller with Georgia.

Match preview

Turkey looked to be heading for a comfortable three points on Thursday, with Mert Muldur making the breakthrough in the early stages of the contest, before Kerem Akturkoglu netted either side of the half-time interval to make it 3-0.

Georgia had other plans, though, making it 3-1 in the 63rd minute before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck a second in the 90th minute, and it was a nervy finish for Turkey, who managed to hold on to win 3-2.

Our Boys made the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, which represented a successful tournament, but they have not actually been present in the finals of a World Cup since finishing third at the 2002 edition.

Vincenzo Montella's side will find it difficult to finish above Spain at the top of Group E, but they are certainly the favourites to claim second, which would see them advance to the playoffs.

Turkey have only ever recorded two wins over Spain, with their last victory against La Roja coming back in 1967 in the Mediterranean Games, demonstrating the size of their task in this match.

Spain, meanwhile, have won their last three games against Turkey, with their most recent clash coming at Euro 2016, when Alvaro Morata netted twice in a 3-0 victory in the group stage of the tournament.

La Roja were also three-goal winners in their Group E opener on Thursday evening, with Mikel Oyarzanal, Marc Cucurella and Mikel Merino finding the back of the net in a 3-0 success over Bulgaria.

In truth, it was a comfortable start for Luis de la Fuente's side, but this will be a tougher examination; a win would already put Spain in a commanding spot in the group, and it would be a shock if they did not automatically qualify for next summer's tournament considering their experience and quality.

La Roja won Euro 2024, famously beating England in the final, while they lifted the World Cup in 2010, but their last three appearances in the finals of the tournament have been disappointing.

Indeed, Spain were knocked out in the group stage of the World Cup in 2014 before only making the round of 16 in 2018 and 2022, and there is no question that they will be expected to advance further this time around.

Turkey World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

Turkey form (all competitions):

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Spain World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

Spain form (all competitions):

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Team News

Turkey have not reported any fresh injury problems from their win over Georgia, and it is expected that the same XI will be sent onto the field for Sunday's game with Spain.

Akturkoglu netted a brace while operating as the centre-forward against Georgia, and he will continue in the final third of the field, while Real Madrid's Arda Guler is set to feature as the number 10.

Juventus' Kenan Yildiz will also be a notable starter in a forward area, while Turkey's captain and most experienced player Hakan Calhanoglu will line up in the middle of their midfield.

As for Spain, Lamine Yamal gave the national side a major scare when he reported a back injury in the second half of the game with Bulgaria, which led to him being replaced.

Yamal will not train on Friday, but De la Fuente is expecting the Barcelona attacker, who was again the standout player on the field last time out, to be fit for the clash with Turkey.

La Roja could ultimately be unchanged, with Merino likely to retain his spot in midfield, while Oyarzabal and Robin Le Normand are set to keep their positions in the XI despite competition from the likes of Alvaro Morata, Ferran Torres and Pau Cubarsi.

Turkey possible starting lineup:

Cakir; Muldur, Demiral, Bardakci, Elmali; Calhanoglu, Yuksek; Akgun, Guler, Yildiz; Akturkoglu

Spain possible starting lineup:

Simon; Porro, Le Normand, Huijsen, Cucurella; Merino, Zubimendi, Pedri; Yamal, Oyarzabal, N Williams

We say: Turkey 1-2 Spain

This has all of the makings of a very interesting match, and we are expecting it to be tight. Turkey's attacking quality should see them find the back of the net, but Spain have enough quality to pick up a huge three points in Group E.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.