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The Spain World Cup 2026 squad didn't include a single Real Madrid player when it was named by Luis de la Fuente. It was the first time ever that it had happened but it won't last much longer.
World Cup 2026 is well underway but Spain's tournament squad will gain its first Real Madrid player after the group stage, assuming they make it that far, by virtue of Marc Cucurella's now-confirmed move from Chelsea.
Spain arrived in the United States as European champions but with remedial work to do in their World Cup performances. They haven’t made it beyond the round of 16 since winning the tournament in South Africa 16 years ago and even that is a step further in the biggest World Cup ever.
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Tiki-taka is dead, as is the Real Madrid-Barcelona duopoly that dominated the national side: long live a high-intensity style characterised, yes, by La Masia graduates, but spanning the continent, with some of the best Spanish players of 2026 plying their trade in the Premier League, coming from the Basque Country and finding leftfield ways to the very top.
Poster boy Lamine Yamal is back in this squad – despite an injury late in the season – and is joined by Barça team-mates Pedri, Pau Cubarsi, Joan Garcia and Dani Olmo, whose path took him via Croatia and the Red Bull set-up before he starred at the Euros.
Los Blancos pair Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal were both left out, after a disappointing season for the side saw them end the campaign without a trophy, and there is also no space for Alvaro Morata, who captained La Roja when they won Euro 2024.
There are seven Premier League representatives in total, with Arsenal trio David Raya, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino among them, the latter having raced back to fitness to earn a spot in the squad.
Athletic Club winger Nico Williams missed out on the squad for the March internationals, but has regained his spot for this summer's tournament.
The Mood
In March 2023, Scott McTominay was just a jobbing Manchester United midfielder rather than the Scudetto-winning reincarnation of Diego Maradona adored from Napoli to New Cumnock. Yet McTominay’s Scotland brace at a febrile Hampden Park, more than three years ago, was the last time Spain lost a competitive fixture in 90 minutes. They’ve played over 30 since.
That was the second match of Luis de la Fuente’s tenure. He must have appreciated the scale of the job facing him, as Spain were outfought, overrun and devoid of areas beyond passing for passing’s sake. De la Fuente duly opted to trust a group of players he knew well from nine years spent as Spain’s Under-19s and U21s boss, implemented a slightly more direct style, and the policy bore fruit at Euro 2024.
Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal, previously little-used, came off the bench to score the winner in the final. He is now established as first choice, with six goals in qualifying. Scoring the same number was Mikel Merino, another promoted De la Fuente regular, to go with Martin Zubimendi, Fabian, Pedro Porro, Alex Baena, Marc Cucurella and, above all, the devastating Nico Williams. Each has the trademark Spanish technique, but also the willingness to progress play from back to front more quickly.
Then there are the Barcelona kids. Gavi and Pedri predated De la Fuente’s arrival but he identified Fermin Lopez, Pau Cubarsi and the singular genius of Lamine Yamal, fast-tracked by club and country at 16 and probably the planet’s most natural talent Sadly, injury curtailed Lopez' chances of playing in the tournament. Yamal bagged 41 Barça goal involvements – two better than 2024-25.
The problem? Internal fighting, as ever. In 2018 it was Real Madrid announcing Julen Lopetegui would be their new boss three days before he was due to lead Spain in a World Cup. Then Euro 2020 featured Luis Enrique at war with his former assistant. Now it’s Barcelona vs the Spanish FA, as each blames the other for Yamal’s early-season injury. Maybe making nearly 200 senior appearances before turning 19 isn’t great for a young player’s long-term development…
Squad
Spain World Cup 2026 squad
- GK: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao)
- GK: David Raya (Arsenal)
- GK: Joan Garcia (Barcelona)
- DF: Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
- DF: Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid)
- DF: Pedro Porro (Tottenham)
- DF: Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao)
- DF: Eric Garcia (Barcelona)
- DF: Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)
- DF: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
- DF: Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen).
- MF: Rodri (Manchester City)
- MF: Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal)
- MF: Mikel Merino (Arsenal)
- MF: Pedri (Barcelona)
- MF: Gavi (Barcelona)
- MF: Fabian Ruiz (Paris St-Germain)
- MF: Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid).
- FW: Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace)
- FW: Victor Munoz (Osasuna)
- FW: Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad)
- FW: Ferran Torres (Barcelona)
- FW: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
- FW: Dani Olmo (Barcelona)
- FW: Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
- FW: Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo).
Lesson from qualifying
At least attack the ball when defending set pieces. Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte are selected for what they can do with their feet, but in Spain’s 2-2 draw with Turkey in November, the visitors caused mayhem from dead balls that Spanish defenders just watched bounce. Beyond that, what can you really learn from five wins to nil and 21 goals scored?
Most likely to...
Pass. They’re still Spain.
Least likely to...
Win a popularity contest. Winners seldom do, but beyond that, Yamal hasn’t been forgiven for hiring a group of dwarves to perform at his 18th birthday party, Rodri is a spiky interviewee after losing to a team playing what he deems “not football” (hello, Scotland) and Marc Cucurella is Marc Cucurella.
What they hope will happen
Another hypnotic love letter to possession and the subjugation of opponents.
What will happen
Heavy artillery set pieces prove their undoing.
Fixtures and results
Fixtures
- June 15, 2026: Spain vs Cape Verde, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States
- June 21, 2026: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States
- June 26, 2026: Uruguay vs Spain, Estadio Akron, Zapopan, Mexico
- September 26, 2026: England vs Spain, Wembley Stadium, London, England
- September 29, 2026: Spain vs Croatia, Venue TBC, Spain
- October 3, 2026: Spain vs Czech Republic, Venue TBC, Spain
- October 6, 2026: Croatia vs Spain, Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia
- November 12, 2026: Czech Republic vs Spain, Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
- November 15, 2026: Spain vs England, Venue TBC, Spain
Recent results
- June 9, 2026: Peru 1-1 Spain, Estadio Cuauhtémoc, Puebla, Mexico
- June 4, 2026: Spain 1-1 Iraq, Riazor, La Coruna, Spain
- March 31, 2026: Spain 0-0 Egypt, RCDE Stadium, Cornellà de Llobregat, Spain
- March 27, 2026: Spain 3-0 Serbia, Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal, Spain
- November 18, 2025: Spain 2-2 Turkiye, Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, Spain
- November 15, 2025: Georgia 0-4 Spain, Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia
- October 14, 2025: Spain 4-0 Bulgaria, José Zorrilla Stadium, Valladolid, Spain
- October 11, 2025: Spain 2-0 Georgia, Estadio Martínez Valero, Elche, Spain
- September 7, 2025: Turkiye 0-6 Spain, Konya Metropolitan Municipality Stadium, Konya, Turkiye
- September 4, 2025: Bulgaria 0-3 Spain, Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria
- June 8, 2025: Portugal 2-2 Spain (5-3 pens), Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
- June 5, 2025: Spain 5-4 France, MHPArena, Stuttgart, Germany
- March 23, 2025: Spain 3-3 Netherlands (5-4 pens), Mestalla Stadium, Valencia, Spain
- March 20, 2025: Netherlands 2-2 Spain, Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Manager
Who is Spain's manager?
Luis de la Fuente has spent the last 12 years in the Spanish national team set up, leading the under-19, under-21 and the under-23 Olympic sides, before being given the reins to the senior side in 2022.
His side were incredible at the 2024 European Championships, with a blend of youth and experience ensuring they won the competition for the fourth time.
The time he spent around the youth sides has allowed him to bring several players with him into the first team.
Star player
Who is Spain's star player?
Lamine Yamal is already a serial winner. He won two league titles, a Copa del Rey and a European Championship all before his 18th birthday, and was ranked second in the 2025 Ballon d'Or.
At Euro 2024 he registered four assists and scored once in seven games. His goal came in the semi-final and was arguably goal of the tournament beating Mike Maignan from 30 yards out.
He is ranked at no.1 in FourFourTwo's list of the best right wingers in the world right now and will be looking to improve his already impressive career with a World Cup win just after he turns 19 in July 2026.
Best XI
