Spain National Team Lists 55 World Cup Candidates: New Faces and Injured Players. The Spanish Football Federation has submitted an expanded list of 55 players for the World Cup to FIFA. The list includes both new faces and players recovering from injuries. The final squad will be selected exclusively from this pool.
The Spanish Football Federation has officially submitted an extended list of 55 players to FIFA who are vying for a spot in the World Cup squad. The list includes not only the usual leaders, but also several players who have not previously been called up to the national team, as well as those who are still recovering from injuries and risk not being fit in time for the tournament's start.
A key difference in this campaign is that the final squad of 26 players will only be selected from this preliminary list. If a player is not among the 55, he cannot be added even in case of force majeure or injuries to other players. This rule has already sparked discussion among experts and fans, as it limits the coaching staff's flexibility in unforeseen circumstances.
Unexpected names
The extended list features names that have not previously been called up to the national team. Among them are Moleiro, who had a strong season at Villarreal, as well as Sergio Gómez from Real Sociedad and Víctor Gómez, who plays for Sporting Clube de Braga. In central defense, Marc Pubill, Pau Torres, Le Normand, Mosquera, Vivian, and Eric García will compete for spots, potentially challenging players such as Laporte, Cubarsí, and Huijsen. On the flanks, Marcos Llorente, Pedro Porro, Cucurella, and Grimaldo are noted.
In the attacking line, Alberto Moleiro drew attention as he was included among the World Cup candidates for the first time. Víctor Muñoz, Jorge de Frutos, Aleix García, Yeremy Pino, Jesús Rodríguez, Carlos Soler, and Barrenetxea are also listed. Some have already appeared in national team matches, while others may debut at a major tournament.
Injuries and recovery timelines
The preliminary list includes all key players who, at the time of application, are undergoing treatment or just beginning to return to training. Mikel Merino is finishing his recovery, Nico Williams is out for three weeks, and Lamine Yamal is expected to miss the opening match but remains among the top candidates for the final squad.
The situation with injured players is reminiscent of recent staffing issues faced by other Spanish clubs, when coaches had to make last-minute changes to their lineups. For example, in a recent match, both Rayo and Girona had to play without several key players, which was analyzed in detail in the article on personnel losses ahead of an important match.
Core of the national team
Despite the appearance of new names, the core of the Spanish national team is practically beyond doubt. According to RUSSPAIN, the goalkeeper line will consist of Unai Simón, David Raya, and likely Joan García, leaving Alex Remiro with little chance. In defense, the coaching staff relies on Llorente, Porro, Laporte, Cubarsí, Huijsen, Cucurella, and Grimaldo. In midfield, the positions of Rodri, Zubimendi, Merino, Pedri, Fabián, Olmo, Fermín, and Gavi—who could return after a break—are stable. Up front, the favorites for a place on the final list include Nico Williams, Lamine, Baena, Oyarzabal, Ferran, and Borja Iglesias.
The final roster of the Spanish national team for the World Cup will be announced closer to the start of the tournament. All 26 players must be selected only from the current list, making every decision by the coaching staff particularly significant amid fierce competition and ongoing uncertainty surrounding injured players.
