The friendly between Spain vs Peru seems more important than the title suggests. A South American squad takes on one of the best teams going into the 2026 World Cup in a match that has a definite regional hook.
The match was played in Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla, Mexico. Spain used the evening as a last warm up before facing Cabo Verde in Group H. Despite not having a World Cup ticket, Peru had the opportunity to test its rebuilding against top tier opponents.
Latest update - Spain wins the final test
Spain defeated Peru 3-1 to finish the friendly. Early goals from Mikel Oyarzabal, Pedri’s second goal prior to halftime and Pedro Gallese’s own goal after halftime made it 3-0. Jairo Vélez later scored for Peru but Spain controlled the main rhythm of the match. the result says 2 things. Spain looks ready to carry the ball, press with patience and punish loose defensive moments. Peru showed effort in stretches yet it spent too much time chasing the game.
Confirmed lineups for Spain vs Peru
Luis de la Fuente used a strong Spain XI, although Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Víctor Muñoz stayed away from the match while completing their recovery work. The decision gave Spain a safer route into the World Cup opener.
Peru starting XI
Pedro Gallese Fabio Gruber, Renzo Garcés, Marcos López, Oliver Sonne Erick Noriega, Yoshimar Yotún, Jesús Pretell, Jhonny Vidales Jairo Vélez, Adrián Ugarriza.
Spain starting XI
Marc Cucurella, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte and Unai Simón Rodri, Fabián Ruiz and Pedri Mikel Oyarzabal, Álex Baena and Ferran Torres.
Where to watch Spain vs Peru?
Broadcast rights can change by country so Ecuadorian fans should always check local listings before kickoff. In the United States (FOX Sports listed FS2, FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App) as live options. In Spain coverage was listed through (La 1, RTVE Play, La2 Cat, DAZN and DAZN Mundial).
Why this match mattered before the 2026 World Cup?
Spain did not treat this friendly as a simple calendar filler. The European champion needed rhythm, sharper timing and a cleaner final third before the tournament. Peru offered a useful test because it brought South American duels, physical pressure and a compact defensive block.
The match also mattered for Group H scouting. Spain faces Cabo Verde first then Saudi Arabia and later closes the group against Uruguay. That last game versus Uruguay will garner plenty of interest across South America, especially Ecuador.
Spain’s FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule
Date | Fixture | Venue |
2026/06/09 | Spain vs Cabo Verde | Atlanta |
2026/06/21 | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | Atlanta |
2026/06/26 | Uruguay vs Spain | Guadalajara |
Lamine Yamal’s light-hearted promise adds color
Lamine Yamal also made headlines before the tournament with a playful promise If Spain wins the World Cup, he promised to grow a beard and moustache for 3 weeks. It’s a tiny story, but it demonstrates how calm he appears despite the pressures around him.
Still Spain’s staff has managed his return carefully. De la Fuente said Yamal, Nico Williams and Víctor Muñoz were on track for the opener if their recovery continued without setbacks.
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