Mansion Sports – The upcoming encounter between the Spain national football team and the Bulgaria national football team in the European Zone Group E of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers is expected to draw considerable attention. 

The match will be held at Estadio José Zorrilla in Valladolid on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 01:45 WIB or Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 20:45 local time.

With the stark difference in form between the two sides, many anticipate a dominant performance from La Roja on their home turf.

Spain Enter the Match with Full Confidence

Spain approach this match in outstanding form. La Roja sit at the top of Group E with nine points from three matches, while Bulgaria remain at the bottom of the table with zero points.

Following their heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat in the UEFA Nations League final against Portugal national football team, Spain responded in emphatic fashion. 

They opened their qualifying campaign with a 3–0 away victory over Bulgaria and followed it with a stunning 6–0 demolition of Turkey national football team during the September international break. 

Their momentum continued with a 2–0 win over Georgia national football team, courtesy of goals from Yeremy Pino and Mikel Oyarzabal.

Spain have scored at least two goals in their last ten matches across all competitions, demonstrating a high level of consistency in both attack and possession. 

With a three-point cushion over Turkey and a six-point lead over Georgia, Spain are well on track to secure qualification for their 13th consecutive World Cup.

Their confidence is further bolstered by their strong head-to-head record against Bulgaria. La Roja have won five of their last six meetings against their upcoming opponents.

Bulgaria Face an Uphill Battle

Bulgaria arrive in Valladolid in a difficult position. Three consecutive defeats have left them at the bottom of the table, struggling to keep pace with the group leaders.

Following losses to Spain and Georgia, Ilian Iliev was dismissed and replaced by Aleksandar Dimitrov. However, Dimitrov’s debut ended in disaster as Bulgaria suffered a crushing 1–6 home defeat to Turkey.

Although the first half of that match was relatively balanced, the Bulgarian defense collapsed entirely in the second half. This result extended their winless run to eight matches, highlighting their defensive instability. 

They have conceded at least two goals in each of their last seven matches, making their chances of taking points from Spain extremely slim.

This fixture may serve more as a mental test for the Lions rather than a realistic opportunity to bounce back in the standings.

Group E Standings Before the Match

Predicted Lineups for Spain vs Bulgaria

Spain (4-3-3)

Spain will be without Dean Huijsen, Rodri, Dani Olmo, and Lamine Yamal due to fitness issues. Nevertheless, Spain’s squad depth gives Luis de la Fuente plenty of options. Álex Baena and Pablo Barrios are expected to feature as rotation options, though the starting XI is likely to mirror the lineup that defeated Georgia. Oyarzabal will again lead the attack, having scored six goals in his last eight international appearances.

Bulgaria (4-3-3)

Bulgaria will be without Emil Tsenov due to injury. Kristian Dimitrov is expected to partner Rosen Bozhinov at the heart of the defense, while Ivan Turitsov will likely occupy the right-back position. In attack, captain Kiril Despodov remains the key figure leading the line.

Final Thoughts

Given the significant gap in form and quality, this fixture presents an opportunity for Spain to further strengthen their position at the top of Group E. Bulgaria, on the other hand, face the tough task of avoiding another heavy defeat.

The predicted lineups highlight the depth and quality of La Roja’s squad, while Bulgaria will rely heavily on team spirit and resilience to withstand the hosts’ dominance.

The match is expected to be played at a high tempo, with Spain likely to control possession from the opening whistle. All eyes will be on Valladolid to see how Spain turn their dominance into another convincing victory.