Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said his side were "already thinking about the World Cup" after Sunday's Nations League final loss on penalties to Portugal in Munich. "From this very moment we are already thinking about the next World Cup,

The Nations League final went the distance – here, three of our writers break down the action from the Allianz Arena in Munich

In a bonkers 5-4 win over France, Spain advanced to the Nations League final where they will face Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the final on Sunday, 3pm ET. The Nations League is not a hugely prestigious event and even if they lose that game it wouldn’t change my opinion that Spain are going to win in 2026 when it really matters.

Cristiano Ronaldo watched the final moments from the bench, but he’d already reshaped the story. When Portugal drew level with Spain midway through the second half of the Nations League final, it was his sharp movement and finish—goal number 138 for his country—that did it.

The former Arsenal star who ended up in jail for drugs smuggling, Spain beat France to enhance World Cup credentials.

Two defeats and last place in a mini-tournament it expected to win have dealt Germany a cold dose of reality ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

England's main rivals for an automatic spot are Serbia. Norway's path to a first World Cup for Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard, and friends will have to include a pair of scraps with Italy, as well as Israel,