Spain announces 2026 World Cup squad: no Real Madrid players included. Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente has revealed the squad list for the 2026 World Cup. Not a single Real Madrid player made the cut. The team’s opening match is set for June 15 against Cape Verde.
The Spanish national football team has finalized its squad for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Head coach Luis de la Fuente has included 26 players in the lineup; however, the final list does not feature a single representative from Real Madrid. This decision immediately sparked discussions among fans and experts, given the traditional influence of the Madrid club on the national team.
The goalkeepers will be Unai Simón, David Raya, and Joan García. The defense will feature Marc Cucurella, Álex Grimaldo, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Pubill, Eric García, Marcos Llorente, and Pedro Porro. The midfielders listed are Pedri, Fabián Ruiz, Zubimendi, Gavi, Rodri Hernández, Álex Baena, and Mikel Merino. In attack will play Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Yeremy Pino, Ferran Torres, Borja Iglesias, Víctor Muñoz, and Lamine Yamal.
At the last moment, defender Dean Huijsen was dropped from the list, despite previously being regularly called up to the team. According to RUSSPAIN, de la Fuente's final decision came as a surprise to part of the football community, especially given the absence of any Real Madrid players—such a situation is extremely rare in the history of the national team.
The World Cup kicks off on June 11, with Spain playing its first match on June 15 against Cape Verde. Ahead of the tournament, attention to the coaching staff's personnel decisions is especially high, given the recent changes in the country's leading clubs. Against this backdrop, interest in the national team's lineup has only increased after in Madrid, they discussed the absence of the coach at Dani Carvajal’s farewell party.
For reference: Spain has traditionally been among the favorites at major tournaments, and the absence of Real Madrid players from the squad may become one of the main topics of the championship. In 2026, the tournament will, for the first time, be held in three countries at once, and the format has been expanded to 48 teams. The Spanish national team will begin the group stage in mid-June, and it is already clear that every personnel decision will be under close scrutiny.
