If Spain’s men’s team beats Argentina in the World Cup final, the Royal Spanish Football Federation would make history: it would be the first federation to hold successive senior World Cup titles on both the men’s and women’s sides.
Spain’s women captured the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 and will enter the next tournament in Brazil as defending champions. The men’s side, a regular presence on the global stage with 17 appearances in 23 tournaments, last lifted the men’s trophy in 2010.
The women’s international competition is far younger than the men’s — it began in 1991, while men’s World Cups date back to 1930 — and in that shorter span only five nations have won the women’s title: the United States, Germany, Norway, Japan and Spain. Of those, only Germany and Spain have also won the men’s World Cup.
Spain’s domestic structure helps explain its strength. La Liga, the country’s top league, consistently produces clubs among Europe’s elite. Real Madrid is one of the most successful clubs worldwide, and FC Barcelona ranks among the sport’s most valuable teams. Legends such as Lionel Messi — who set goal-scoring records at Barcelona — and the nearly religious draw of Camp Nou for fans underline the deep football culture that feeds the national teams.
But Spanish women’s football has not always had that support. For years the women’s game suffered from underinvestment, poor coaching and mistreatment. In 2015, Spain’s entire Women’s World Cup squad successfully demanded the dismissal of longtime coach Ignacio Quereda amid long-standing complaints of indifference and abuse. A 2021 documentary, Romper el silencio, included allegations of sexual harassment and verbal abuse by Quereda.
Ahead of the 2023 World Cup, players again pushed for change: 15 players publicly refused call-ups until the federation improved conditions. After Spain won the tournament, federation president Luis Rubiales forcibly kissed forward Jenni Hermoso during celebrations, an act that provoked widespread condemnation. The squad rallied behind Hermoso and called for the removal of Rubiales and of coach Jorge Vilda, who had defended the federation leadership. Rubiales was suspended for three years and, according to court proceedings, was later tried and found guilty of sexual assault in 2025.
The controversy crossed into the men’s camp as well: members of Spain’s men’s squad voiced support for Hermoso. Striker Borja Iglesias said he would not play for the federation while Rubiales remained in charge. After Spain beat France 2–0 in the World Cup semifinal in Dallas, a widely shared moment showed Iglesias embracing Hermoso on the sideline.
Spain will meet Argentina in the final on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET in New Jersey. A victory would not only add a second men’s World Cup to Spain’s trophy case but would also mark a unique milestone for a federation that, after a turbulent path for its women’s game, now stands on the brink of making football history.
Madeline Fox is News Director at KCUR. For more World Cup coverage from KCUR, see Soccer City 2026.