The China Mail - Unbeaten Spain qualify for 2026 World Cup with Turkey draw

Turkey finished second and will compete in the play-offs after they became the first team to force Luis de la Fuente's Euro 2024 champions to drop points.

Dani Olmo fired Spain ahead but Deniz Gul and Salih Ozcan struck for Turkey as the hosts conceded their first goals in the qualification process.

Mikel Oyarzabal hit back to equalise in Seville for a Spain team looking to win football's biggest prize for the second time.

Spain scored 21 goals in qualifying while conceding just twice and have not tasted defeat in a national record 31 consecutive games.

However, that run includes a 2-2 Nations League final draw with Portugal after extra-time in June, with Spain losing on penalties.

Turkey showed De la Fuente's side are not flawless, although Spain were missing several key players, including Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Rodri.

They knew to qualify all they had to do was avoid defeat by a seven-goal margin, which was never on the cards, and might have triumphed if not for some inspired goalkeeping by Manchester United stopper Altay Bayindir.

Marc Cucurella's cross found Olmo in the box and he controlled it well to bypass a defender before finishing lethally in the fourth minute.

The Barcelona playmaker twice came close to scoring a second from long range but Bayindir tipped over both efforts.

Turkey became the first team to score against Spain in qualifying just before the break when Gul levelled, reacting quickly to flick home a knock-down from a corner.

The visitors came out strongly in the second half and forced Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon into a pair of smart saves before taking the lead.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ozcan rifled home from the edge of the box after Orkun Kokcu had set the ball up nicely for him.

Spain bit back and Oyarzabal finished from close range after Merih Demiral did brilliantly to block Yeremy Pino's shot on the line but it rebounded off another defender nicely for the Real Sociedad forward.

It was Oyarzabal's sixth goal in a qualifying campaign where he has staked his claim to be Spain's starting striker at the World Cup.

Substitute Samu Aghehowa came close as Spain sought a winner, but Bayindir kept out his header and then denied Alex Baena to secure Turkey an impressive point.

Barcelona's Fermin Lopez found the net in stoppage time but his goal was disallowed for offside.

L.Kwan--ThChM