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VIDEO | Merchas Doski's Viral Goal Surprises Spain Ahead of the 2026 World Cup
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡น Guatemala /Sports

VIDEO | Merchas Doski's Viral Goal Surprises Spain Ahead of the 2026 World Cup

From Prensa Libre · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Iraqi defender Merchas Doski scored a stunning long-range goal to equalize against Spain in a friendly match preparing for the 2026 World Cup.
  • The goal, a powerful left-footed shot from outside the box, went viral on social media, surprising Spanish fans and generating significant attention.
  • The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with the goal serving as a confidence boost for Iraq and a warning for tournament favorite Spain.

In a surprising turn of events during a friendly match preparing for the 2026 World Cup, Iraqi defender Merchas Doski scored a spectacular goal to level the score against Spain. The match, held at the Riazor Stadium in A Coruรฑa, saw Spain take an early lead through Ferran Torres in the 16th minute. However, just 11 minutes later, Doski, a player for Viktoria Plzeลˆ, unleashed a powerful left-footed strike from outside the penalty area that found the upper corner of the net, silencing the home crowd.

The goal, which quickly went viral on social media platforms like X, where the video garnered over 500,000 views in a matter of hours, drew widespread praise for its quality and unexpectedness. Iraqi fans celebrated the equalizer, while Spanish supporters expressed surprise at the team's performance. Doski, a 26-year-old born in Hanover, Germany, to Kurdish-Iraqi parents, has established himself as a key player for Iraq, capable of playing as a fullback or midfielder.

The 1-1 draw served as a crucial final warm-up for Spain on European soil before their departure to the United States for the World Cup. Coach Luis de la Fuente used the match to give minutes to debutants and returning players like Gavi. While Spain dominated possession and initially led, Iraq's swift counter-attack and Doski's moment of brilliance demonstrated that less favored teams can compete effectively. For Iraq, the result provides a significant confidence boost heading into the World Cup, while for Spain, it serves as a clear warning that they cannot afford to underestimate any opponent.

MERCHAS DOSKI STUNS THE FAVORITES WITH AN UNEXPECTED EQUALIZER TO BRING IRAQ RIGHT BACK INTO THE MATCH!

โ€” Goals Xtra (social media account)A social media post highlighting the viral goal scored by Merchas Doski against Spain.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Prensa Libre in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.