Spain's 16 titles in five years: A dominant force in football

Spain have done it again. After being crowned European champions two years ago in Berlin, La Roja are now world champions, having beaten Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday. This latest success continues their remarkable dominance in both men's and women's football.

Spain are the first nation to hold both the men's and women's World Cup titles simultaneously – the women's team overcame England in the 2023 final in Sydney. The men also won the Nations League in 2023 and Olympic gold in 2024, while the women won the Nations League in 2024 and 2025. In total, Spain have won 16 world and European titles from under-17 to senior level in the last five years.

A winning machine

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague described the achievement as a "perfect storm." Culturally, he said, "we do things a certain way. Everybody believes in it. The important thing is that we don't stop." He added: "It's another Everest because the men won the World Cup in 2010 two years after winning the Euros. Now we've done it again."

Women's football (11 titles, 2022-2026)

• Senior: 1 World Cup (2023); 2 Nations Leagues (2024, 2025)
• Under-20: 1 World Cup (2022)
• Under-19: 5 European Championships (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
• Under-17: 1 World Cup (2022); 1 European Championship (2024)

Men's football (5 titles, 2022-2026)

• Senior: 1 World Cup (2026); 1 European Championship (2024); 1 Nations League (2023)
• Under-23: 1 Olympic gold (2024)
• Under-19: 1 European Championship (2026)

The De La Fuente gamble pays off

When Spain appointed Luis de la Fuente as head coach in December 2022, few expected him to deliver the Nations League (2023), European Championship (2024) and World Cup (2026) in such a short time. Spain had just been eliminated by Morocco in the World Cup round of 16 in Qatar, and the federation needed a replacement after Luis Enrique left.

"They went with this guy [De La Fuente] who understood the style and the system," Balague said. "It was a very risky decision – I don't think anyone thought he would be so successful." De La Fuente took charge without having managed a big club. After retiring as a player in 1994, he spent 15 years in various roles at different clubs, including managing in the lower Spanish leagues, youth roles and assistant positions, before leading Spain's youth teams.

Former Spain midfielder Juan Mata noted: "De la Fuente knew most of these players from the academies and they are growing as a team. This is not only a team for the present, but also a team for the future." Since becoming senior boss, De La Fuente has implemented a culture of respect for rivals, patience and calmness.

"Most of you are younger than me and you need to respect experience," the 65-year-old told journalists at his pre-match news conference in New York on Friday. "Once we finished the game, there were footballers who said 'coach, now what else is there to win as we have won everything in all the categories.' We came to the conclusion that what remains is the next match in September because this team are relentless."

The success of Spain's national teams and coaches has also influenced club football. Despite Pep Guardiola's departure from Manchester City after 10 trophy-packed years, at least a quarter of the managers starting the 2026-27 Premier League season are Spanish.