Spain’s 2026 side have reached another World Cup final, inviting comparison with the team that won the tournament in 2010. Both entered their World Cup campaigns as recent European champions and have built success on defensive solidity, although the newer team is less internationally experienced and lacks some of the household names of Spain’s golden generation.

The 2026 squad has an average age of 27.8, older than the 2010 group’s 26.7, but averages only 33 international caps per player compared with 56. Spain’s current starting line-up averaged 44 caps against 59 in the 2010 final, while the side have matched Italy’s 37-game unbeaten record and become the first team to keep six clean sheets at one World Cup. The article contrasts established 2010 figures such as Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol and Xabi Alonso with current players including Unai Simón, Pedro Porro, Marc Cucurella, Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte.