Mikel Merino Says Spain Are 100% Ready for Atlanta

mikel merino said Spain feel 100% ready on the eve of their first World Cup match in Atlanta, and the message fits a squad that has carried its Euro 2024 confidence into the tournament. Spain arrive unbeaten in 30 games, with the same belief that carried them through a title run built on wins over Croatia, Italy, Germany, France and England.

Merino Sets Spain's Tone

Merino's word was simple: 100%. That is the level Spain are taking into Atlanta after winning Euro 2024 and then seeing their run halted only on penalties in the 2025 Nations League final.

The midfielder's message also matches the way Spain have spoken about themselves since lifting the European Championship. Luis de la Fuente asked, "Why can’t Spain win the World Cup?" and the squad has leaned into that idea rather than shying away from it.

Euro 2024 Still Defines Spain

Spain's route to the Euro 2024 title gave the team a clear reference point. They beat Croatia, Italy, Germany, France and England on the way to the trophy, a run that explains why the group is again carrying favorite status into a major tournament.

Álvaro Morata captured that mood on 15 July 2024 in Berlin when he said, "Seems I have an eye for a player," after Spain won the European Championship. Rodri later added a sharper edge to the discussion, saying, "I don’t think we were favourites at the Euros and we won it."

Chattanooga Holds Spain's Base

Spain's World Cup training base is in Chattanooga, where the squad is preparing with an evolved group compared with 2024. That change has not altered the outlook around the team, with Merino's pre-match message reinforcing how firmly Spain are backing their own standards.

For now, the frame is clear: a champion team, a 30-game unbeaten streak and a first World Cup test in Atlanta. Spain are not hiding from the expectation that comes with that record, and the tone from Merino suggests they do not intend to start now.