Merchas Doski's curling strike in the 27th minute rescued Iraq and left world number two Spain with a 1-1 draw at Estadio de Riazor in La Coruña on June 5, 2026. Ferran Torres had opened the scoring in the 16th, finishing low from a measured Dani Olmo pass. Spain dominated possession after the break but, missing Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Pedri, and with David Raya unavailable, could not find a winner against an organised Iraqi side that sat deep and relied on counter-attacks and goalkeeper Ahmed Basil to keep the score level. Both sides have one final warm-up before the World Cup: Spain travel to Puebla to face Peru ahead of their opener against Cape Verde on June 15; Iraq meet Venezuela before facing Norway on June 16.

Favoured on paper yet punished by a swift counter, Spain produced long spells of control but left the Estadio de Riazor with only a draw to show for it. The game offered a clear contrast between pre-match expectation and the final scoreline: Spain carried the ball for long periods, but a compact Iraqi side found the decisive moment that neutralised the hosts' early momentum.

The opener arrived with the flow still in Spain's favour. Dani Olmo picked out a measured pass that slipped Ferran Torres into the box, and Torres finished low past Ahmed Basil in the Iraqi goal in the 16th minute. It was a straightforward move, the kind Spain expect to profit from when their forwards have service and space.

Less than 15 minutes later Iraq produced their reply. Merchas Doski collected the ball on the left edge of the area and bent a left-footed strike into the top corner in the 27th minute, leaving Joan Garcia off his line and restoring parity. The finish was precise and clinical, and it exposed a vulnerability in Spain's defensive organisation for a moment they could not afford to give away.

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Spain started with the heavier possession footprint but were missing several usual attacking options, a factor that shaped the game from the outset. Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Pedri were absent through injury, and David Raya was also unavailable. Those absences narrowed Spain's attacking palette, and Iraq exploited that narrowing by sitting deep and looking to hit on the break.

After the interval Spain enjoyed the greater share of territory and carved more chances, probing for the decisive finish without finding it. Ahmed Basil produced at least one notable save to deny Torres, and several Spanish attempts either lacked the final touch or were blocked by Iraq's compact rearguard.

Iraq, buoyed by the momentum of qualification and their first World Cup appearance since 1986, defended in numbers after the equaliser and brought on substitutes to preserve shape rather than chase the game.

Substitutions from both sides altered the rhythm but not the scoreboard. Spain introduced fresh attacking options in search of a winner, while Iraq refreshed legs to maintain their defensive discipline and keep Spain at bay. The match finished 1-1, a result that denied Spain the home send-off victory they had sought and handed Iraq a confidence-boosting outcome ahead of the tournament.

The game was as much a tactical rehearsal as it was a test of personnel. Spain will take the positives of sustained possession and the chance creation that followed, but the draw underlines the challenge of integrating replacements for established regulars. Iraq, by contrast, leaves Galicia reassured that a low-risk, organised approach can frustrate a world-class opponent.

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Spain travel to Puebla to face Peru as their final warm-up before opening the World Cup against Cape Verde on June 15, 2026.

This article was created with AI assistance.