If you thought the Spain national football team women would just fade away after the chaos of 2023, you haven't been paying attention. Honestly, most people expected a massive hangover. You know the drill: win the World Cup, get embroiled in a global scandal involving a non-consensual kiss, fire your coach, and then... what? Crash out?
Hardly.
Spain didn't just survive the fallout; they basically rebuilt the car while driving it at 100 mph. As of early 2026, they aren't just a "good" team. They are the undisputed #1 in the FIFA rankings. They’ve managed to do something that rarely happens in modern sports: they stayed at the top while their entire internal structure was being ripped apart and put back together.
The Sonia Bermúdez Era: A Tactical Shift
For a long time, the shadow of Jorge Vilda loomed large. Even after Montse Tomé took over and steered them through the immediate aftermath, there was a sense of "same old, same old." That changed in August 2025. When Sonia Bermúdez was named head coach, the vibe shifted.
Bermúdez is a legend. She earned 63 caps as a player. She knows exactly what it's like to wear that jersey when nobody cared about women's football in Spain. Her appointment wasn't just a PR move; it was a statement. Under her guidance, Spain has become even more clinical.
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The stats from the 2025 season are frankly ridiculous:
- Average goals per match: 3.00
- Possession: 65.8%
- Passing accuracy: 88.5%
They aren't just winning; they're suffocating teams. In the 2025 Nations League final against Germany at the Metropolitano, they put on a clinic. A 3-0 win in front of a record-breaking crowd. It felt like a coronation.
What Really Happened with the "Old Guard"?
There’s been a lot of talk about whether the veteran stars are being pushed out. You've probably heard the rumors about Jenni Hermoso. After the 2025 Euro, where Spain finished as runners-up to England (a heartbreaking 1-1 that went to penalties), Bermúdez made some tough calls.
Hermoso, the all-time leading scorer with 57 goals, has seen her minutes dwindle. Bermúdez has been vocal about "starting from scratch." It’s a risky move. Cutting ties with the player who became the face of the #SeAcabó movement takes guts. But the emergence of younger talent like Vicky López—who was only 18 when she started lighting up the 2025 Euro—makes the transition feel less like a purge and more like evolution.
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The "Perfect" Midfield is Getting Better
We need to talk about Aitana Bonmatí. Is she human? At 28, she is playing football on a different plane of existence. She’s won three consecutive "The Best" awards.
Paired with a fit Alexia Putellas and the grit of Patri Guijarro, the Spanish midfield is a nightmare to play against. It’s like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. They move the ball with a telepathic connection that makes elite opponents look like they’re playing in slow motion.
But it’s not just the big names. Look at Clàudia Pina. She scored 8 goals in 10 appearances during the 2025 Nations League cycle. She’s becoming the bridge between the World Cup winners and the next generation.
Why 2025 was the Real Turning Point
The 2023 World Cup win was iconic, sure. But the 2025 season proved it wasn't a fluke. Spain reached the final of the Euros and won back-to-back Nations League titles (2024 and 2025).
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"We are a much more experienced team now," Bonmatí told the press recently. "We learned more from losing the bronze medal match at the Paris Olympics than we did from winning the World Cup."
That’s a scary thought for the rest of the world. They’ve tasted defeat (the 2024 Olympic disappointment and the 2025 Euro final loss to England) and instead of crumbling, they used it as fuel. They ended 2025 with 2094.89 FIFA points, keeping the USA and Germany at arm's length.
Navigating the Road to the 2027 World Cup
The goal is clear: defend the title. But the path isn't easy.
- Managing the Ego: Bermúdez has to keep a locker room of superstars happy while integrating teenagers.
- Defensive Stability: While they dominate the ball, they’ve shown they can be vulnerable on the break, as England proved in the Euro 2025 final.
- The Hermoso Factor: How the team handles the eventual retirement or phase-out of their most iconic player will define the "Bermúdez Era."
Spain has moved past the "scandal" phase. They are now in the "dynasty" phase. When you watch the Spain national football team women play today, you aren't seeing a team defined by what happened in a boardroom or on a trophy podium in Sydney. You're seeing a tactical juggernaut that has finally aligned its off-field support with its on-field genius.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the team's progress toward the next major cycle, keep these points in your notes:
- Watch the Youth Integration: Keep a close eye on Vicky López and Silvia Lloris. Bermúdez is giving them high-leverage minutes now to ensure they are battle-hardened by 2027.
- Tactical Flexibility: Notice how Spain has moved away from "possession for possession's sake." Under the current system, they are much more willing to play direct balls to Salma Paralluelo to exploit high lines.
- The Goalkeeping Situation: Cata Coll remains the #1, but the gap is closing. Competition for the starting spot is at an all-time high, which is exactly what a championship squad needs.
- Monitor the FIFA Rankings: Spain enters 2026 at the top. Maintaining this lead requires a deep bench, especially with the grueling domestic schedules many of these players face at Barcelona and Real Madrid.