For the first time in the history of “La Roja,” Spain’s official squad for the 2026 World Cup will not feature a single player from Real Madrid.
Head coach Luis de la Fuente announced the final 26-man roster on Monday, leaving fans and pundits stunned by the exclusion of Madrid’s defender Dean Huijsen, while striker Gonzalo García was relegated to the reserve list.
In stark contrast, FC Barcelona, the newly crowned La Liga champions, dominate the selection with 8 players. Leading the pack is the sensational Lamine Yamal, who is included despite still being in the recovery phase of his latest injury.
De la Fuente Gambles on Fitness and Loyalty
The squad list reveals a calculated risk by De la Fuente, who called up Nico Williams, Mikel Merino, and Gavi. While Williams and Merino are recovering from knocks, Gavi’s inclusion is seen as an emotional tribute to his resilience, having only returned from a major injury two months ago—an injury sustained during World Cup qualifiers two years prior.
Rodri has been officially named the first captain, followed by Unai Simón, Ferran Torres, and Mikel Oyarzabal. Spain will play two friendlies against Iraq and Peru before kicking off their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde, followed by Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
Spain 2026 World Cup Squad
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Goalkeepers: Unai Simón, David Raya, Joan García.
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Defense: Marcos Llorente, Pedro Porro, Eric García, Marc Pubill, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Alejandro Grimaldo.
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Midfield: Rodri, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Mikel Merino, Fabian Ruiz, Alex Baena.
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Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Borja Iglesias, Victor Muñoz, Mikel Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Yeremy Pino.
