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It all began in Scotland and this impressive streak persists. That fateful evening at Hampden represented only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; many believed it might turn out to be his final match in charge. Although two Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, while virtually everyone expected his tenure would be short-lived, the coach talked about a pathway opening - and remarkably, the man once accused of being unrealistic turned out correct.

36 months and four days, Spain advanced extremely close of global football participation, while simultaneously achieving their 29th consecutive official game unbeaten, equaling the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Merino's Impact

During an evening when Pedri played and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to secure 12 points from twelve in qualifying, edging closer. The Gunners' midfielder and occasional forward scored the opening two goals and could have secured his second consecutive hat-trick in three recent Spain matches but when fouled in the final minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was La Real striker, scorer of the decisive goal in the European Championship final, who maintained the remarkable sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Now, readers may have noticed the symbol, and rightly so. Although FIFA might not classify it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. Yet officially at least, this present team has matched that historic team against which all Spanish sides are measured.

Victory in Georgia in thirty days and the record will be exclusively theirs. En route they captured the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and reached a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 ranked number one, among the frontrunners once more, just like old times.

Complete Domination

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, combined score 15-0. Occurred two instances immediately after La Selección obtained their opening goals – the third being an own goal – but eventually their rivals had not been allowed a single shot on target.

Overall count read: 33-3, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as possible. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Pedri's Masterclass

This performance was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere simultaneously: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he flitted through their defense. He completed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a standing ovation on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the moments of utmost subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive as well.

When the José Zorrilla chanted his name during the opening period, he had just slipped unmarked into the area once more, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not just that. He had previously floated a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and delivered an additional back from which Baena was blocked.

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He received a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a clean connection, volleying wide.

But then, shortly after, he delivered an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had 88% of the ball, now had the advantage. The heat map looked like they had exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the initial occasion Bulgaria advanced into Spain's half they might have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov abruptly sprinting away and hitting the side-netting.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had multiple chances in as many minutes before Merino scored once more. The delivery from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header down and dash off to celebrate round the flagpost.

Closing Stages

Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov played through and putting his and their second shot wide and nevertheless the first time the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his team's goal. Still it was not quite finished, Merino kicked in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.