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Spain names 26 man World Cup 2026 squad with no Real Madrid players for the first time in their history in the tournament.
The European Champions would be one of the favorites to win the World Cup.
Spain has announced a 26-member squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, and for the first time in its 92 years of competing at the tournament, no Real Madrid players have made it.
Madrid, the most decorated club in the world (and not just Spain), finished the 2025-26 season without a major trophy. 21-year-old defender Dean Huijsen had the best chance of getting into the traveling party to America, but has missed out with Luis de la Fuente preferring Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, and Eric Garcia.
Former Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal, who would leave the club this year, could have been a strong contender had his last few seasons not been ravaged by injuries.
Spain did not take any Madrid players to the 2020 European Championship, the ‘Euros’, but three of them represented the Euro 2024-winning squad: Carvajal, defender Nacho, and striker Joselu. Nacho and Joselu have left the club since the competition.
The squad is heavily represented by La Liga champions Barcelona with 8 players (Joan García, Cubarsí, García, Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal). There are 3 players from Premier League winners Arsenal (David Raya, Martín Zubimendi, Mikel Merino), 3 from Athletic Club (Unai Simón, Laporte, Nico Williams), and 3 from Atlético Madrid (Marc Pubill, Marcos Llorente, Álex Baena).
Spain has been drawn in Group H alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay and will begin its campaign against Cape Verde on June 14. With the likes of Yamal and Williams, The Red would be one of the favorites to at least reach the semi-final of the competition.
Spain’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Squad
Goalkeepers: Unai Simón, David Raya, Joan García
Defenders: Marc Cucurella, Alejandro Grimaldo, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Pubill, Eric García, Marcos Llorente, Pedro Porro
Midfielders: Pedri, Fabián Ruiz, Martín Zubimendi, Gavi, Rodrigo Hernández, Álex Baena, Mikel Merino, Mikel Oyarzabal
Forwards: Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Yeremy Pino, Ferran Torres, Borja Iglesias, Víctor Muñoz, Lamine Yamal
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