- Luis De La Fuente has named the EURO winners squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Lamine Yamal expected to miss opening two matches with hamstring injury.
- No Real Madrid player made it to the World Cup Squad.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has officially unveiled his final 26-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, triggering immediate headlines by making unprecedented historical omissions.
The reigning European champions, who are heavy favorites alongside France and England to lift the global showpiece this summer, will head to the United States, Mexico, and Canada with a squad completely devoid of Real Madrid players for the first time in the country’s World Cup history.
While the white side of Madrid watches from a distance, Barcelona heavily dominates the selection. De la Fuente has named eight Blaugrana stars from their recent La Liga-winning campaign.
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Yamal leads Spain’s final 2026 FIFA World Cup squad
Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal headlines the attack despite currently nursing a minor hamstring injury, with reports indicating he will be fully fit by Spain’s third group stage match.
In midfield, Gavi completed a remarkable late surge to seal his ticket, proving his fitness after returning from a long-term knee injury in March.
He joins fellow club teammates Pedri and Dani Olmo in a star-studded engine room.
Conversely, there was heartbreak for Real Madrid’s veteran defender Dani Carvajal and youngster Dean Huijsen, both of whom were left out by De la Fuente following difficult campaigns at the club level.
Attacking midfielder Fermín López also missed out on the final selection due to a late injury.
The 2010 World Champions find themselves in a historic position. If La Roja emerge victorious in July, they will become the first nation in men’s football history to simultaneously hold the World Cup, the Olympic title, and their continental (Euro) crown.
Speaking on the squad selection and Spain’s status heading into the tournament, De la Fuente remained confident yet grounded:
“We have to be cautious, despite being favourites. We have to go with our feet on the ground. I don’t shy away, we are favourites, but we’re equally as favourites as England or France. There are no club players here, there are national team players. It’s a different mentality.”
Spain has been drawn into Group H for the expanded 48-team tournament. They will kick off their campaign on Monday, June 15 against tournament debutants Cape Verde, before facing Saudi Arabia on June 21 and closing out the group stage against Uruguay on June 27.
Spain 2026 FIFA World Cup final squad
Goalkeepers: Unai Simón (Athletic Club), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan García (Barcelona).
Defenders: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club), Marc Pubill (Almería), Eric García (Barcelona), Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham).
Midfielders: Pedri (Barcelona), Fabián Ruiz (PSG), Martín Zubimendi (Arsenal), Gavi (Barcelona), Rodrigo Hernández (Manchester City), Álex Baena (Villarreal), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad).
Forwards: Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Club), Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo), Víctor Muñoz (Osasuna), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).