World Cup Preparations Start
Spain Kicks Off World Cup Preparations with Friendly Match Against Iraq in Riazor
Spain kicks off its World Cup preparation with a friendly against Iraq at Abanca-Riazor in A Coruña on June 4 at 21:00 CET. It is the first of two warm-up matches before La Roja flies to the United States to set up their base camp in Chattanooga, Tennessee, RTVE reported.
The match carries the
Riazor Pitch Invasion Forces Emergency Repairs
The run-up to the match was overshadowed by chaos at the stadium. On May 31, thousands of Deportivo La Coruña fans stormed the Riazor pitch after the club won promotion to Primera División. The invasion left massive damage: 752 seats were torn out and the hybrid turf was badly damaged, according to Heraldo de Aragón.
Emergency crews worked around the clock for 72 hours. Workers replaced the seats and manually re-stitched the turf. By June 2, both RFEF and local officials confirmed the match was no longer at risk. The rapid fix was seen as a key test for A Coruña's bid to host matches at the 2030 World Cup, according to La Voz de Galicia.
Stars Rested as Borja Iglesias Steps into the Spotlight
Spain's two biggest attacking stars will not start. Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are both managing minor physical discomfort and are expected to sit out to protect their fitness for Spain's World Cup debut on June 15 against Cape Verde in Atlanta, RTVE reported.
That leaves the spotlight on Borja Iglesias, the Celta de Vigo forward who is back in his home region of Galicia. At the pre-match press conference, he kept expectations grounded.
Iraq Returns to the World Cup Stage After 40 Years
For Iraq, this is far more than a warm-up game. The Lions of Mesopotamia are returning to the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 40 years, last appearing at the tournament in 1986. They qualified through an intercontinental playoff win over Bolivia, with forward Aymen Hussein leading the attack, according to AS.
Head coach Graham Arnold, the Australian manager who took charge in May 2025, sees the match as a rare chance. Facing the reigning European champions is a
Road to Atlanta: Spain's World Cup Plan Takes Shape
After the Iraq match, Spain flies directly from Galicia to Chattanooga on June 5. Their second and final warm-up is against Peru in Puebla, Mexico on June 8, according to OkDiario. Three players — David Raya, Mikel Merino, and Martín Zubimendi — miss the Riazor match because they played in the Champions League final.
The Iraq match may also settle the goalkeeper debate. Coach Luis de la Fuente hinted he already knows his starter from the trio of Unai Simón, David Raya, and Joan García, but wants to use the game to finalize his decision. Captain Rodrigo Hernández leads the squad into the tournament, succeeding the legacy of Morata and Carvajal, according to EFE.
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