Former winners Spain took a massive step towards qualifying for the 2026 World Cup with a convincing victory in Georgia.
2026 World Cup qualification Europe
0-4
Match Report
Luis de la Fuente's side are three points clear with one match remaining in Group E and only a seven-goal loss at home to second-placed Turkey on Tuesday will deny Spain automatic qualification.
Spain, the 2010 world champions, continued their dominant qualifying campaign and only needed 11 minutes before they scored their first goal in Tbilisi, thanks to Mikel Oyarzabal's penalty following a handball from Giorgi Gocholeishvili.
Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi doubled Spain's lead 11 minutes later by lifting the ball past Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, with former Manchester City striker Ferran Torres adding a third before half-time from Oyarzabal's pass.
Torres then provided a curling cross in the 63rd minute which was headed in by Oyarzabal for his second goal and Spain's fourth.
Spain, top of Fifa's world rankings, have won all five of their qualifiers, scoring 19 goals in the process and without conceding.
They would have secured automatic qualification if Turkey had dropped points against Bulgaria, but Hakan Calhanoglu's penalty and Atanas Chernev's own goal gave Turkey a 2-0 win.
But, with a goal difference 14 worse than Spain's, Turkey need to win by a seven-goal margin in Sevilla on Tuesday to deny the Spanish automatic qualification for next summer's tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
11' Penalty Goal! Oyarzabal puts visitors ahead from the spot! Georgia 0-1 Spain
17' Baena receives a pass and attempts a lob, but the effort crashes off the post
22' GOAL! Zubimendi extends the lead as Fabian Ruiz assists! Georgia 0-2 Spain
34' GOAL! Oyarzabal slips the ball to Ferran who steers it home! Georgia 0-3 Spain
47' Oyarzabal drills a low shot but the keeper makes a save
56' Merino is booked yellow after bringing down an opponent
60' Mekvabishvili hits a piledriver from distance, but Unai Simon denies him
63' GOAL! Oyarzabal steers his headert into the back of the net! Georgia 0-4 Spain
71' Highlight from Georgia vs Spain
74' Match Event for Georgia vs Spain
Line-ups
Georgia XI: Budu Zivzivadze, Vladimer Mamuchashvili, Luka Lochoshvili, Otar Kiteishvili, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Zuriko Davitashvili, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Iuri Tabatadze, Anzor Mekvabishvili, Giorgi Gocholeishvili, Saba Goglichidze
Subs: Guram Kashia, Giorgi Kvilitaia, Davit Kereselidze, Giorgi Tsitaishvili, Giorgi Guliashvili, Giorgi Abuashvili, Shota Nonikashvili, Nodar Lominadze, Luka Gugeshashvili, Giorgi Kvernadze, Aleksandre Narimanidze
Spain XI: Laporte, Merino, Unai Simón, Cucurella, Fabian Ruiz, Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Martín Zubimendi, Álex Baena, Porro, Cubarsi
Subs: Grimaldo, Álex Remiro, Iglesias, Llorente, A.García, David Raya, Olmo, Fornals, Dani Vivian, Yeremy, Fermín López, Barrios