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Meet The World Cup Country About To Have 3 Solar Eclipses In 3 Years
By Jamie Carter - 7/6/2026, 8:58 AM - 666 words
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Meet The World Cup Country About To Have 3 Solar Eclipses In 3 Years
Spain is about to become the eclipse capital of the world.
On Aug. 12, a total solar eclipse will cross the country — about to play Portugal in the World Cup — just before sunset, bringing the moon’s dark umbral shadow to mainland Europe for the first time this century.
It will be followed less than a year later by another total solar eclipse in southern Spain on Aug. 2, 2027, and a “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse on Jan.
26, 2028.
That means Spain will experience three major solar eclipses in just 532 days — two total and one annular — making it the must-visit destination for eclipse chasers in the coming years.
A tiny region of extreme northeastern Portugal will also be within the path of totality this Aug.
12.
On Aug. 12, 2026, the path of totality will cross parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain and Portugal at sunset.
From Spain, it will begin in Galicia in the northwest and end in the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea.
Europe will see a deep partial eclipse near sunset, while in the northeastern U.S. states and Canada, a small partial eclipse will be seen in the afternoon.
The eclipsed sun will sit low in the sky as seen from Spain, making a clear western horizon essential — and potentially offering dramatic views and photographs.
The area around León, Burgos and Palencia is favored because the eclipse will take place relatively high above flat, open landscapes.
The Perseid meteor shower peaks on the same night as the eclipse, overnight on Aug. 12-13, just hours after the eclipse, and 2026 brings a new moon, meaning dark skies for one of the best Perseid displays in years.
During the eclipse itself, the sky may darken enough for Venus, Jupiter or bright stars to appear, but meteors are fleeting, random and generally best seen in a fully dark night sky.
A very bright fireball during totality is not impossible, but it would be pure luck.
The smart plan is to watch the eclipse at sunset, then stay out all night for Perseids.
The real Perseid show comes after midnight and before dawn.
Spain’s rare run begins with the Aug. 12, 2026 total solar eclipse across northern Spain.
Less than a year later, on Aug. 2, 2027, another total solar eclipse will cross southern Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia and the British Indian Ocean Territory.
In Spain, places such as Cádiz, Málaga, Tarifa, Ceuta and Melilla will be among the prime locations, while the longest global duration will occur near Luxor, Egypt, at 6 minutes, 22 seconds.
Then, on Jan.
26, 2028, Spain gets a third solar eclipse — this time annular.
The moon will appear slightly too small to completely cover the sun, leaving a thin ring of sunlight around the lunar silhouette.
The path of annularity will cross the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Suriname, French Guiana, Morocco, Portugal and southern Spain, where it will occur close to sunset.
Here’s what you need to know about the next three total solar eclipses:
* Aug. 12, 2026 total solar eclipse: Choose a cruise near Greenland, urban comforts in Reykjavík, a trip to rural northern Spain or a sunset eclipse over the sea from Majorca.
In Spain, the crucial factor will be an unobstructed western horizon.
* Aug. 2, 2027 total solar eclipse: Southern Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt offer a long totality and generally strong prospects for clear skies.
For ultimate bragging rights, Luxor, Egypt, is the standout destination, offering the longest totality along the eclipse path amid ancient temples.
* July 22, 2028 total solar eclipse: Although not part of Spain’s trio, this eclipse completes a global run of three total solar eclipses from 2026 to 2028.
It will cross the Australian Outback and New Zealand, with Sydney experiencing totality for the first time since 1857.