Spain continued their impressive form in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a resounding 6-0 win against Turkey in Konya. Mikel Merino stole the spotlight with a remarkable hat-trick, while Pedri also contributed with two goals, and Ferran Torres added another to the tally. This victory marks Spain's second consecutive win in the qualifiers, solidifying their lead in Group E.

The match kicked off with Spain displaying their attacking intent early on. Pedri opened the scoring just six minutes in with a low shot that found the far corner after a clever dribble past a defender. Turkey had a brief chance through Hakan Çalhanoglu, but Spain quickly regained control, with goalkeeper Ugurcan Çakir making a series of saves to keep his team in the game.

Spain doubled their lead in the 22nd minute following a beautifully orchestrated team move. Merino netted his first goal after a sequence of intricate passes involving Marc Cucurella and Mikel Oyarzabal. As the first half neared its conclusion, Merino struck again just before halftime, converting a pullback from Pedri after another swift attack.

The second half saw Spain maintain their dominance, with Torres scoring the fourth goal shortly after the break. Merino completed his hat-trick with a stunning curling shot from outside the box in the 61st minute, showcasing his growing confidence in an advanced midfield role. Finally, Pedri capped the scoring at 6-0, finishing a well-crafted move that highlighted Spain's fluid attacking play.

Despite the heavy defeat, Turkey attempted to push back, with Arda Güler and Kerem Aktürkoglu looking for a consolation goal, but Spain's defense held firm. This victory sends a strong message from the European champions as they continue to build momentum in their quest for World Cup qualification, with six points from two matches and a goal difference of +9.

Post-match, Merino expressed his delight, noting the importance of scoring goals from midfield and the joy of achieving his first career hat-trick. Spain will look to maintain this impressive form as they prepare for their next qualifier against Georgia.