Founding Years (1920)

Lore & Background

Spain has been a member of FIFA since its founding in 1904, although the Spanish Football Federation was not established until 1909. The first Spain national football team was created in 1920 to compete the 1920 Summer Olympics in Belgium. Spain made their debut at the tournament on 28 August 1920 against Denmark, silver medalists at the last two Olympic tournaments. Spain won the match 1–0 and eventually finished with the silver medal.

In Their Own Story

The air was thick with dust and anticipation at the Stade Pershing in Paris. Players from across Spain, wearing mismatched kits that would eventually evolve into the iconic red and yellow, gathered on the grass pitch. There were no roaring crowds like today, only the murmurs of spectators watching history unfold. As the referee blew his whistle for the first official match against France, a collective breath was held. It did not matter that they lost; what mattered was that La Roja had finally arrived.

Reader's Guide

Spain's debut match was on August 28, 1920, at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, against Denmark. They won 1–0.

Did You Know?

• Spain's first match was on 28 August 1920 against Denmark at the Antwerp Olympics.
• Spain won its first major international title at the 1964 European Nations' Cup, defeating the Soviet Union 2–1 in the final.
• Spain is one of two national teams, the other being France, to have won all three available major titles: the World Cup, the European Championship, and the Nations League.