What's happened
Spain has named its 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, with Lamine Yamal as a star presence. For the first time since 1950, no Real Madrid player features as Dean Huijsen is injured and Dani Carvajal is left out. Mikel Merino has returned from injury, and Yamal faces a potential hamstring issue ahead of the tournament.
What's behind the headline?
Brief
- Spain’s 2026 World Cup squad marks a historic departure from Real Madrid’s presence for the first time since 1950.
- Yamal is the standout name, backed by a strong Barca core and several Premier League players.
- Injury doubts surround Yamal and Williams, but the coaching staff says players are in top form and ready.
What this means
- The absence of Madrid players shifts the national team’s club ties and may affect fan expectations.
- The mix of Barca and Premier League players suggests a balance of youth and experience.
- Spain aims to defend recent European success on a crowded global stage.
How we got here
Spain has won Euro 2024 and will open the World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on June 15. The squad includes several Barcelona players and seven Premier League-based players. Yamal is among the Barcelona group, with key players like Gavi and Pedri also in the mix.
Our analysis
AP News, France 24, The New Arab, Al Jazeera, AP News (squad details and quotes)
Go deeper
- Which players are most likely to impact Spain’s this World Cup run?
- How will Yamal’s fitness affect Spain’s opening matches?
- What does the absence of Real Madrid players mean for the squad’s dynamics?
More on these topics
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Lamine Yamal - Spanish footballer
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana is a Spanish professional footballer from Catalonia who plays as a right winger for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team. He is regarded as one of the best young talents in the world.
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Dani Carvajal - Spanish footballer
Daniel Carvajal Ramos is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right back for Real Madrid and the Spanish national team.
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Nico Williams - Footballer
Nicholas "Nico" Williams Arthuer is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Athletic Bilbao.
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David Raya - Spanish footballer
David Raya Martin is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Brentford. He began his senior career with Blackburn Rovers and transferred to Brentford in 2019.
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Arsenal F.C. - Football club
Arsenal Football Club is a professional football club based in Islington, London, England, that plays in the Premier League, the top flight of English football.
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Gavi - Spanish footballer
Pablo Martín Páez Gavira, commonly known as Gavi, is a Spanish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Barcelona.
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Dean Huijsen - Soccer centre-back
Dean Donny Huijsen Wijsmuller is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club AFC Bournemouth. Born in the Netherlands, he plays for the Spain national team. He will join La Liga club Real Madrid on 1 June 2025.