Spain fall to Chile in the Shootouts and miss out on Allianz Parque

Spain came close. Very close. One step from Allianz Parque. But the Kings World Cup Nations Brazil 2026 stopped them short. The semi-final against Chile had all the ingredients of a decisive-stage classic: goals, cards, relentless pressure and a brutal finish. After a 5–5 draw in regulation time, La Roja fell in the Shootouts, left without a ticket to the final.

The Trident Arena hosted an electric afternoon, the kind decided by the smallest margins. Spain competed, answered every blow and stayed alive until the very end. But when the decisive Shootouts arrived, Chile were sharper.

A breathless match and constant exchanges

The match began at full throttle. Matías Herrera struck early for Chile, but Spain responded with personality. Aleix Martí, one of the standout names of the tournament, levelled the score with his goal and kept Spain firmly in a match that never settled.

The halftime draw (1–1) reflected an open contest with no clear owner, both teams attacking better than they defended. That was no coincidence: several of the tournament’s most productive attacking players were on the pitch.

After the break, the game turned into a sequence of continuous punches. Dani Liñares, currently among the tournament’s provisional assist leaders with 4, stepped up again for Spain, while Gerard Nolla took on the offensive spotlight.

Nolla, the third-highest provisional scorer of the KWC Nations with 9 goals and also Top 5 in assists (4), carried Spain through the hottest moments with two consecutive goals that kept the tie perfectly balanced.

But Chile always had an answer. Nacho Herrera, also on 9 goals in the provisional scoring rankings, signed a brace in regulation time and struck again when it hurt most. Mathías Vidangossy, the tournament’s provisional assist leader with 8, left his mark in the decisive stretch.

The turning point came late on: Spursito missed his President Penalty, and Chile did not forgive. Nacho Herrera opted to take a Shootout, instead of the President Penalty, converting to make it 5–5 and push the semi-final to the format’s cruelest frontier.

Shootouts, the final frontier

The ending arrived where there is no safety net: the Shootouts. And there, the margin was nonexistent.

The series started badly for Spain. Gerard Nolla failed to convert his attempt, while Nacho Herrera put Chile ahead. Aleix Martí forced a yellow card on Matías Herrera, ruling him out of the Shootouts, but the subsequent attempt was also missed.

Chile failed one of their chances, but Spain could not capitalize. Marc Pelaz and Dani Liñares missed their Shootouts, while Mathías Vidangossy made no mistake for Chile, sealing Spain’s elimination.

There was no final epic moment. Just silence. And a shared feeling: the match slipped away on the finest of margins.

Pride, learning and a tournament that leaves its mark

Spain miss out on the final, but not on the tournament. The Spanish national team ends its run in the semi-finals after going toe to toe with one of the competition’s most solid sides and delivering performances that confirm a generation already established among the Kings elite.

There will be no Allianz Parque. Not this time. But this KWC Nations 2026 leaves one clear certainty: Spain now belong to the nights where everything is decided by minimal details.