Spain World Cup Squad: Carvajal Out, De la Fuente Nears Final 26
Ahead of the official squad announcement, Spain concluded their pre-World Cup warm-up matches last week. They secured a comfortable 3-0 victory against Serbia but were held to a goalless draw by Egypt at the RCDE Stadium. Coach Luis de la Fuente appears to have already finalized most of his 26-man squad for the upcoming tournament in the United States.
Before the Egypt fixture, de la Fuente revealed he had already identified 20 to 22 players for his 2026 World Cup roster, leaving a handful of positions open. These remaining spots will largely depend on player fitness and recovery from injuries, according to Diario AS. A significant development is that Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal is reportedly unlikely to be included, missing what could be his final major tournament with the national team, unless his fitness dramatically improves.
Goalkeeping Picture Emerges
Unai Simon is confirmed as Spain's first-choice goalkeeper, with David Raya as his primary backup. De la Fuente surprised many by calling up both Alex Remiro and Joan Garcia for the recent international break, giving Garcia his debut. The decision for the third goalkeeper spot between Remiro and Garcia remains open.
Defense: One Final Spot Contested
With Carvajal likely out, Pedro Porro and Marcos Llorente are expected to be the right-back options. On the left, Marc Cucurella and Alejandro Grimaldo have secured their places. In central defense, Dean Huijsen, Pau Cubarsi, and Aymeric Laporte are confirmed. Dani Vivian's chances appear to have diminished, leaving one central defensive slot contested between Robin Le Normand, Eric Garcia, and Cristhian Mosquera.
Midfield Hinges on Key Recoveries
The core midfield features Rodri Hernandez, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez, and Alex Baena. Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Merino are expected to travel if they regain full fitness. Isco and Gavi, both recovering from long-term injuries, are not currently in contention. Pablo Fornals, Aleix Garcia, and Carlos Soler are competing for the remaining midfield positions.
Attack: The Number Nine Conundrum
Mikel Oyarzabal is guaranteed to lead the line as Spain's primary number nine if fit, with Ferran Torres as his likely understudy. For a more traditional striker profile, Borja Iglesias is reportedly the front-runner, ahead of Gonzalo Garcia and Jorge de Frutos. On the wings, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams (if fit) are assured of their spots. Victor Munoz significantly boosted his chances during the recent international window, and Yeremy Pino has been a regular call-up for de la Fuente, though neither is guaranteed a final spot.
Confirmed Selections (21 Players, if fit):
The following 21 players are considered guaranteed selections for the squad, provided they maintain fitness: Unai Simon, David Raya, Pedro Porro, Marcos Llorente, Pau Cubarsi, Dean Huijsen, Aymeric Laporte, Alejandro Grimaldo, Marc Cucurella, Rodri Hernandez, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri, Mikel Merino, Fabian Ruiz, Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Mikel Oyarzabal.
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