Spain will face Bulgaria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the USA, Mexico and Canada. This became clear after the European champions defeated the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the Nations League tournament after a 3:3 draw in regular time and extra time and a 5:4 penalty shootout.

At the Mestalla in Valencia, the Spaniards and the Dutch put on another goal-scoring show after the first match in Rotterdam, which ended 2:2. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for La Furia Roja in the 8th minute from a penalty, before Memphis Depay equalized for the Tulips also from the penalty spot. Once again, Oyarzabal restored the lead for the Spaniards, before Jan Maatsen scored the match in extra time. In them, the two teams exchanged another goal after the precise interventions of Lamine Yamal and Xavi Simons from the penalty spot. In the 11-meter penalty kicks, Yamal failed for Spain, but Noa Lang and Donyell Malen made misses for the Netherlands.

The European champions will visit Bulgaria on September 4 in a world qualifier. The other two opponents of the Bulgarians are Turkey and Georgia.

The Spaniards will play in the semifinals of the Nations League with France, which erased a two-goal deficit against Croatia. In the penalty shootout, the French were more accurate and won 5:4.

In the other semi-final, the teams of Germany and Portugal will face each other. The Bundesteam squandered a three-goal lead against Italy in the second leg in Dortmund, but they advanced after the 2:1 victory on Italian soil. The Portuguese overcame a one-goal deficit against Denmark, defeating the opposition 5:2 after extra time. The semi-finals are on June 4 and 5 in Munich and Stuttgart.

Play-offs for promotion to League A and League B of the Nations League were also played. Turkey, Greece, Serbia and Belgium advanced to League A, while Georgia, Kosovo, Slovenia and the Republic of Ireland will play in League B. | BGNES

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Stefan Ignatov, Sports Department in BGNES News Agency