They are responsible for Spain's eighth title, placing them at the top of the all-time standings alongside England and Scotland. The pantheon of Spanish heroes in this tournament includes names like Ignacio Garrido (winner with the 1990 team), Sergio García (1996), Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño (1996), Rafa Cabrera (2002), Jorge Campillo (2002), Jon Rahm (2011), David Puig (2018), and Eugenio López-Chacarra (2018). And from today, this list must be expanded to include Nico, Samu, Gon, Yago, Raúl, and Mateo, a group of brothers of different blood, as they themselves say.

The victory in this final can be explained by the team's conviction—and here we must include captain Santiago Urquijo, vice-captain Jaime Gabarda, coach Yago Beamonte, and physiotherapist José Mata—that everything would go well. And so it did; both goals went perfectly.

A putt by Nicolás Vidal for a perfect foursomes record…

The foursomes session was thrilling, as befits a final between two six-player teams of this caliber. When we say that Raúl Gómez and Yago Horno are the pair of the moment, it's because of things like what we saw in the first match of the day: both secured their 3 for 3 with exquisite golf. A five-meter putt from Raúl here, an iron down the middle of the green from Yago there, and just like that, on the 12th hole, they were already 4 up. A dream start.

The player from Alicante and the one from Huelva finished the job on the 16th hole and waited for Mateo Hidalgo and Nicolás Vidal to reach the green, a pair that deserves some comment. The player from Madrid, because he rested in the semifinals and, far from feeling diminished, has consistently contributed from any position. And the player from the Canary Islands, because whoever he plays with, he's a force to be reckoned with and a source of calm. He's the ideal partner, for that reason and because he plays like an angel.

Mateo and Nico had the foursome match seemingly lost; it hung in the balance for the English on the 18th, a putt of just over a meter, when they were one down after seventeen very even holes. The Spanish pair did what you have to do in Match Play when your opponent gives you an opening: take the initiative. They won the hole and went into the playoff with everything they had and dozens of young fans cheering them on.

On the twentieth hole, a playful par 3, pure ecstasy. Mateo landed it on the green with a powerful iron shot, and Nico holed out from about seven meters. What followed: fist bumps, hugs, and a few shouts of "let's go!" for a minute, because after a second, they had to start thinking about what was coming in the afternoon, the final showdown.

…and an epic bunker-barreled save to close out the final

Just an hour later, the players were back at it again, but this time for the last time: it was all or nothing, finish the series with a title in hand or wait until next year. The Spanish team didn't seem to feel the pressure of the moment at all, or at least that's how it appeared, since most of the matches were won by the Spanish from the start.

However, as is natural, during the afternoon the 'livescore' became more even; Gonzalo Baños was met by Frankie Morton with excellent play around the green, Nicolás Vidal was showing signs of fatigue from a week in which he has played everything, and Samuel Love was trying to hold off an Aaron Moody who was flying.

Only one match unfolded smoothly, Raúl Gómez's, which he won in the 13th minute. This player also has his own beautiful story. In July 2024, Spain lost to Iceland on the final day of the Under-18 European Championship and was relegated to the Second Division. A 16-year-old Raúl Gómez, who had earned his place on that team, was part of that squad. Today, here in Montecastillo, the Alicante native is a testament to the fact that in sports, as in life, second chances arise if you fight for them. The 2026 version of Raúl, much improved after two seasons of experience, has been crucial in Spain winning the same tournament that left such a bitter taste in 2024. Individually, this has been his final act of service.

One point remained to be won to decide the final, and it seemed that it could go to either Gonzalo Baños or Yago Horno, both matches incredibly tense and evenly balanced. It went to Baños, and in the dream scenario: on the 18th green, in front of his home crowd, after an unforgettable bunker shot. At that moment, it was all over: Spain were once again EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS.

Spain, eight-time champion of the category

Spain has won the European Under-18 Men's Team Championship eight times (1980, 1990, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2011, 2018, and 2026). Spain's record in this tournament also includes two silver medals (1989 and 2004) and six bronze medals (1982, 1983, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 2022).

END

Spain beats England 5.5-1.5