Luis de la Fuente’s 26-man Spain squad for the World Cup 2026 has been announced, featuring several notable omissions, none more striking than Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen. The decision marks a historic first for the Spanish national team, as they will compete at a World Cup without a single Real Madrid player in their ranks.
The squad, named on Monday, sees the 21-year-old Huijsen, who signed for Real Madrid from Bournemouth for £50 million last summer, left out despite his recent involvement with the national team. Huijsen had made six senior Spain appearances in 2025, including his international debut in March, and played the full 90 minutes in Spain’s most recent international fixture against Egypt just two months ago.
A personal blow for Dean Huijsen
The exclusion comes as a significant blow for Huijsen, whose inner circle reportedly believed his place in the squad was “nailed on.” This confidence was partly fueled by the Amsterdam-born defender’s involvement in promotional campaigns for the upcoming tournament, which will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Following the announcement, Huijsen took to social media to express his feelings. “Many congratulations to my teammates who will be attending the World Cup. I will be supporting them from home like every other Spaniard,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Read also: Premier League 2025/26 Prize Money Rankings: Every Club’s Final Payout Revealed
De la Fuente’s defensive selections saw him opt for a blend of experience and youth over Huijsen. The central defenders chosen include:
- Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club)
- Marc Pubill (Atleti)
- Eric Garcia
- Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)
Notably, 19-year-old Pau Cubarsi, who has already amassed 11 senior international caps, made the cut, while Marc Pubill is uncapped. Other high-profile players left out of the squad include Dani Carvajal, EURO 2024 captain Alvaro Morata, and Atletico Madrid defender Robin Le Normand.
Real Madrid’s historic omission
The absence of any Real Madrid players from the squad is a stark departure from tradition for Spain, who lifted the World Cup trophy in 2010. According to SPORTbible, it marks the first time in history that Spain will compete at a World Cup without a single Real Madrid player in the squad, underlining a major shift in Luis de la Fuente’s selections away from the capital club’s traditional influence on the national team.
Spain will compete in Group H next month, beginning their campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta. They will then face Saudi Arabia, also in Atlanta, before concluding their group stage fixtures against Uruguay in Zapopan.
Read also: FIFA under investigation for ticket price inflation for World Cup 2026
The full 26-man World Cup squad is as follows: Goalkeepers: Unai Simon, David Raya, Joan Garcia; Defenders: Marc Cucurella, Alejandro Grimaldo, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Pubill, Eric García, Marcos Llorente, Pedro Porro; Midfielders: Pedri, Fabian Ruiz, Martín Zubimendi, Gavi, Rodrigo Hernandez, Alex Baena, Mikel Merino, Mikel Oyarzabal; Forwards: Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Yeremy Pino, Ferran Torres, Borja Iglesias, Víctor Munoz, Lamine Yamal.
Sources: www.sportbible.com
Read also: Pep Guardiola exit sparks Man City chaos as two stars considers transfer escape
