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Spain appear ready to dominate world football for the next decade. The reigning World and European champions have become a formidable force, with Lamine Yamal and his teammates stepping into their prime years, making them incredibly difficult to stop.

Unai Simon claimed the Golden Glove at the 2026 World Cup after keeping seven clean sheets in eight matches—an extraordinary achievement. Yet, remarkably, it could be argued that the goalkeeper was barely tested, such was Spain’s control throughout the tournament.

Former England No.1 Joe Hart summarised it well on the BBC: “No one laid a glove on Spain. They faced only 10 shots on target in the entire tournament. Spain have developed a way of playing that no other team in the world can match.” It’s difficult to disagree with that assessment.

Spain might not have dazzled with flair at the World Cup, but they were undeniably unstoppable. Some opponents managed to frustrate Luis de la Fuente’s side, but none could truly trouble them. Now, having added a world title to the European crown they won in Germany two years earlier, the question arises: just how many more trophies could this Spanish side collect in the years ahead?

‘Perfect clockwork’

Spain’s group-stage performances were not spectacular. Their opening draw with Cape Verde was partly due to Lamine Yamal being fit enough for only the final 15 minutes. His return to the starting XI, however, sparked a 4-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia in their second match.

Even with Yamal featuring for 76 minutes in the 1-0 victory over Uruguay that secured Group H’s top spot, Spain still didn’t quite look like the team that dazzled at Euro 2024. Yamal and fellow winger Nico Williams were both hindered by hamstring issues, while Pedri struggled to find his best form.

De la Fuente, however, remained calm. “This is a long journey, and this team does not concede much,” he said after their third consecutive clean sheet. “They’re unbeatable.”

Ralf Rangnick, whose Austria side were clinically dismantled 3-0 in the round of 32, reached the same conclusion. “There’s really not much left for them to improve,” said the former Manchester United manager. “They are like perfect clockwork. I can’t recall a single unforced error. Spain showed their best today. I’d even say we didn’t just face the European champions, but the next world champions.” Rangnick’s prediction proved spot-on.

Relentless La Roja

Spain became an unsolvable puzzle. Even Portugal, boasting Vitinha, Joao Neves and Bruno Fernandes in midfield, couldn’t disrupt Rodri and company during their last-16 clash in Dallas. Spain’s persistence eventually paid off, with Mikel Merino netting a dramatic injury-time winner.

Merino scored again in the quarter-final against Belgium, this time in the 88th minute after Rudi Garcia’s team had managed to breach De la Fuente’s defence. Pau Cubarsi was at fault for Charles De Ketelaere’s goal, but the young defender quickly redeemed himself as his parried shot led to Merino firing Spain into the semi-finals. There, they were expected to face their toughest test—but made France’s much-vaunted attack look ordinary.

‘Know what they need to do’

Many were astonished by Spain’s dominance in Dallas, but not former France striker Thierry Henry. “I’ve experienced it as both a player and a coach,” Henry said on Fox Sports. “When I played for Barcelona, you had to understand that the ball moves—you must stay disciplined, trust your teammates, let the ball flow.

“It sounds simple, but it’s not. They passed the ball around France like they weren’t even there. My point is, it doesn’t matter who plays—they’ve known what to do since they were nine years old. When someone new joins, even if it’s his first or tenth cap, he already knows the system because he’s played it all his life. That’s identity, that’s philosophy.”

‘Best football nation in the world’

Lionel Scaloni clearly spent plenty of time devising a plan to stop Spain in Sunday’s final, but Argentina’s main response was physical. Zlatan Ibrahimovic could understand their frustration. “When you don’t touch the ball, when your opponents keep it all the time, you go crazy,” the Swedish legend said on Fox. “You lose patience and just want to kick something. They are the best football nation in the world.”

That supremacy doesn’t look like fading anytime soon.

Fantastic De la Fuente

Elsewhere, five-time winners Brazil still appear uncertain under Carlo Ancelotti; questions remain about England’s true calibre and Thomas Tuchel’s tactics; Argentina could soon lose both Lionel Messi and Lionel Scaloni, the architects of their recent success; France await the beginning of the Zinedine Zidane era after Didier Deschamps; and Jurgen Klopp faces a major rebuilding task with Germany.

Spain, in stark contrast, have found stability under De la Fuente. Since replacing Luis Enrique following Spain’s 2022 World Cup exit in the last 16, he has suffered only two competitive defeats—one of which came on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final.

It’s astonishing to recall that many doubted De la Fuente’s appointment, given his lack of senior-level silverware. Yet, using the same methods that brought him European titles with Spain’s Under-19 and Under-21 sides, he has delivered their first World Cup since 2010—with the sixth-youngest squad in a 48-team tournament. Imagine how much better 19-year-olds Cubarsi and Yamal could be by the next World Cup.

‘Take your hope away’

Still, focusing on individuals misses the essence of Spain’s success. As De la Fuente emphasises, their power lies in unity, not star power. Even Yamal sacrifices personal glory for the collective cause.

“He wasn’t at 100 percent, didn’t have his best tournament, and yet Spain dominated every match,” Ibrahimovic observed. “They won the World Cup even without him at his peak because when Spain start passing, they take your spirit and your hope away.”

As Henry noted, while players may come and go, the philosophy remains constant. Spain’s unwavering belief in their footballing identity has propelled them back to the summit of the game. “These players deserve everything,” De la Fuente said. “They’ve shown commitment, unity, generosity, and talent every single day.”

‘Team for the future’

The most daunting prospect for the rest of the footballing world is that Spain are still hungry. There’s no sign of complacency within this squad. “The players asked me what we have left to win,” De la Fuente revealed after beating Argentina. “We decided it’s the next match, against England in September’s Nations League, because this team never stops.” Every side that faced them in North America would surely agree.

“Against a team like Spain,” France coach Deschamps admitted after their semi-final defeat, “you must be at your absolute maximum. France weren’t at that level.” Few teams are right now—and perhaps won’t be for years. As Juan Mata told BBC Sport, “This is not just a team for today, but also for the future.”

Sunday night’s final, then, may not have marked the end of Spain’s journey—but rather another step towards building a dynasty that could define the next decade of football.