Spain announces 2026 FIFA World Cup squad without Real Madrid players as Lamine Yamal leads roster

Spain unveiled its 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with no Real Madrid players included for the first time ever.

Photo: @SEFutbol

Spain officially unveiled its squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with one historic detail dominating the conversation: for the first time ever, no Real Madrid players were selected for Spain’s World Cup roster.

Head coach Luis de la Fuente announced the 26-man squad on Monday ahead of the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The roster is led by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who is set to make his World Cup debut after emerging as one of the brightest stars in global football.

Spain’s decision to leave out every Real Madrid player marks the end of a historic streak that had lasted through the nation’s previous 16 World Cup appearances. Players such as Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal were ultimately excluded from the final squad.

Meanwhile, FC Barcelona will contribute eight players to the roster, reinforcing the club’s growing influence within Spain’s current generation.

Among the notable inclusions are Marc Pubill, Eric García, Víctor Muñoz and Yeremy Pino, while Gavi returns to a major international tournament after missing Euro 2024 through injury.

De la Fuente defended the selection process during his press conference and emphasized that club affiliation played no role in the final decisions.

“This was a very mature and carefully analyzed list,” the coach said. “Are we among the favorites? Yes. Can we win the World Cup? Yes. But nothing is guaranteed.”

Spain enters the tournament as one of the favorites after winning Euro 2024 and building a squad centered around a talented young core mixed with experienced internationals. The team will compete in Group H alongside Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde.

The Spanish Football Federation also released a special promotional video featuring workers from different professions across Spain, along with a message from King Felipe VI, under the slogan: “When our national team plays, we all play.”

Goalkeeprs: Unai Simón (Athletic Club), David Raya (Arsenal, ENG) y Joan García (FC Barcelona).

Defenses: Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur, ENG), Marcos Llorente (Atlético de Madrid), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club), Pau Cubarsí (FC Barcelona), Marc Pubill (Atlético de Madrid) y Eric García (FC Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea, ENG), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen, GER).

Midfielders: Rodrigo Hernández (Manchester City, ENG), Martín Zubimendi (Arsenal, ENG), Pedri (FC Barcelona), Fabían Ruiz (París Saint-Germain, FRA), Dani Olmo (FC Barcelona), Mikel Merino (Arsenal, ENG), Gavi (FC Barcelona), Alex Baena (Atlético de Madrid).

Forwards: Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona), Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace, ENG), Ferrán Torres (FC Barcelona), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Borja Iglesias (Celta de Vigo), Nico Williams (Athletic Club) y Víctor Muñoz (CA Osasuna).