Spain thrash Turkey 6-0 in World Cup Qualifier
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino was the star of the night, completing a memorable hat-trick.
KATHMANDU: Spain produced a stunning display in their World Cup qualifier, dismantling Turkey 6-0 in a statement victory that underlined their dominance in Group E.
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino was the star of the night, completing a memorable hat-trick.
He opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, added a second in first-half injury time, and sealed his treble in the 57th minute with a spectacular strike from 20 yards after a clever assist from Lamine Yamal.
Merino’s resurgence for Spain has been remarkable. In 2025 alone, he has scored six goals in six appearances, compared to just two in his previous 31 caps.
Spain’s control didn’t stop there. Pedri struck twice in quick succession (46th and 62nd minutes), while Ferran Torres netted in the 53rd minute to pile further misery on the Turks.
Mikel Oyarzabal was equally influential, providing three assists—including two for Merino’s goals.
With this emphatic win, Spain now sit top of Group E with six points, while Turkey and Georgia trail with three points each.
