Sofia Quijada
Lamine Yamal headlines Spain‘s Barcelona-heavy squad for the 2026 World Cup, confirmed by coach Luis de la Fuente on Monday. The 18-year-old’s inclusion comes with a fitness caveat — a hamstring injury sustained with Barça has kept him sidelined since late April, leaving his availability for Spain’s opening fixtures in doubt.
Get 200% Bonus up to $500 – World Cup 2026 on TipsGG × Stake
The World Cup 2026 is almost here. Follow every match with expert betting tips, live odds, and tournament news – all in one place. Bet smarter with Stake’s 200% Welcome Bonus up to $500.
The squad carries a landmark absence: for the first time at a World Cup, Spain will field no Real Madrid players. Dean Huijsen and veteran right-back Dani Carvajal — the latter still working back from an injury-disrupted campaign — were both left out.
Mikel Merino, a De la Fuente favourite, earned his place after returning from a foot fracture that had sidelined him since January. The Arsenal midfielder came off the bench against Crystal Palace on Sunday in the Gunners’ final Premier League match — his first competitive minutes in months.
De la Fuente also called up defenders Eric Garcia and Marc Pubill, rewarding strong domestic seasons with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid respectively. Robin Le Normand, also of Atletico, was cut alongside Huijsen.
Nico Williams of Athletic Club kept his place despite a season disrupted by fitness issues. He and Yamal were central to Spain‘s Euro 2024 triumph and remain the primary attacking catalysts heading into the tournament.
Spain’s Full 2026 World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers
- Unai Simon (Athletic Club)
- David Raya (Arsenal)
- Joan Garcia (Barcelona)
Defenders
- Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid)
- Pedro Porro (Tottenham)
- Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club)
- Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)
- Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
- Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders
- Rodri (Manchester City)
- Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino (Arsenal)
- Pedri, Gavi (Barcelona)
- Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards
- Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace)
- Victor Munoz (Osasuna)
- Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad)
- Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo (Barcelona)
- Nico Williams (Athletic Club)
- Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo)
Follow TipsGG for Spain’s World Cup fixtures, squad updates, and betting analysis as the tournament approaches.