- Spain included injured Lamine Yamal in 2026 World Cup squad.
- No Real Madrid player made Spain’s squad for the tournament.
- Luis de la Fuente remains confident injured players will recover fully.
Spain have included teenage sensation Lamine Yamal in their 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite ongoing concerns over the Barcelona forward’s fitness.
The 18-year-old winger has been sidelined since suffering a torn left hamstring during Barcelona’s match on April 22, but Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said the technical crew remains optimistic about his recovery before the tournament begins.
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“We’re very relaxed. Barring any setbacks, we’ll have everyone available from the very first match,” De la Fuente said after unveiling the squad.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Spain also included Nico Williams despite the Athletic Bilbao winger recently struggling with a hamstring problem.
One of the biggest talking points from the squad announcement was the complete absence of players from Real Madrid, marking the first time in Spain’s World Cup history that no player from the club made the final squad. Defenders Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal were both left out.
Mikel Merino earned a recall after returning from a four-month injury layoff during Arsenal’s final Premier League game of the season.
The midfielder joins fellow Premier League-based players David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, Pedro Porro, Marc Cucurella, Rodri and Yeremy Pino in the squad.
Uncapped defenders Eric Garcia and Marc Pubill were rewarded for their impressive performances for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid respectively.
“Excitement is the key word. Passion,” De la Fuente added.
“The reaction of people all over Spain, adults and children alike, is that they are fully behind the national team.”
Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez will miss the tournament after being ruled out with a broken foot.
Spain will begin their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on June 15 before facing Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H.
Spain World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers:
Unai Simon, David Raya, Joan Garcia.
Defenders:
Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella, Alejandro Grimaldo.
Midfielders:
Rodri, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Pedri, Gavi, Fabian Ruiz, Alex Baena.
Forwards:
Yeremy Pino, Victor Munoz, Mikel Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Borja Iglesias.
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