Spain’s 2026 World Cup squad, announced by coach Luis de la Fuente, has delivered two seismic shocks: the inclusion of injured 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal and the unprecedented exclusion of all Real Madrid players. This marks the first time in history that the reigning European champions will not have a single representative in the national team’s World Cup contingent.
The decision to include Yamal is a significant gamble. The Barcelona forward, who will celebrate his 19th birthday during the tournament, tore his left hamstring on April 22 while playing for his club. This injury sidelined him for the final month of the season, raising questions about his match fitness for the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19. Despite the setback, de la Fuente has shown immense faith in the prodigious teenager’s ability to recover and contribute.
Real Madrid’s historic omission
The complete absence of Real Madrid players from the 26-man squad is perhaps the most striking aspect of de la Fuente’s selections. Defenders Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal, both from Real Madrid, were among those left out. This historic exclusion follows a season where Real Madrid failed to secure any silverware, finishing eight points behind La Liga champions Barcelona.
Addressing the selection philosophy, de la Fuente emphasized his impartiality. “I don’t look at one club or another. I don’t have that local bias a fan might have. For me, it’s more global,” he stated, adding, “The only thing I want is for these footballers to feel proud of representing the national team.”
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Injury concerns and new faces
Yamal is not the only player included with recent injury concerns. Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, also battling a hamstring problem, has made the cut, as has Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino, who recently returned from a stress fracture in his foot. Conversely, Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez was ruled out of the tournament last week due to a broken foot.
The squad also features several fresh faces, including uncapped defenders Eric Garcia from Barcelona and Marc Pubill of Atletico Madrid. Seven Premier League players have been called up:
- David Raya (Arsenal)
- Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal)
- Mikel Merino (Arsenal)
- Pedro Porro (Tottenham)
- Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
- Rodri (Manchester City)
- Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace)
De la Fuente expressed confidence in his squad’s readiness for the challenge ahead.
“We’re very relaxed. Barring any setbacks, we’ll have everyone available from the very first match,” he told BBC Sport.
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Spain is set to begin their Group H campaign against debutants Cape Verde on June 15, followed by matches against Saudi Arabia on June 21 and Uruguay on June 26.
Sources: www.bbc.com
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