Madrid, May 21: Spain’s head coach, Luis de la Fuente, has announced that he has finalized the list of 26 players for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
De la Fuente will reveal the squad on Monday, following the last round of matches in La Liga. In an interview with former player Mario Suarez, he acknowledged that both the team’s approach and strategy for the World Cup are already set.
He mentioned the possibility of including players who have not previously represented Spain. Additionally, he hinted at selecting three goalkeepers, suggesting that either Joan Garcia from Barcelona or Alex Remiro from Real Sociedad may not make the cut.
De la Fuente expressed optimism about the chances of injured players like Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, and Mikel Merino being called up. He noted, “Some players may not participate in the initial matches.” He also highlighted that Dani Olmo began the 2024 European Championship with an injury, despite being the tournament’s top scorer.
Luis de la Fuente remarked, “He provided a crucial pass to Merino against Germany and made a vital clearance against England. He had to be there, and it was worth the wait and the risk.” The coach stated that he and his staff watch around 60 matches weekly, keeping an eye on both their players and opponents, traveling approximately 180 days a year.
De la Fuente emphasized that the strength of Spain lies in the unity of the team. He said, “During the European Championship, we adopted the term ‘family’ because we spent a lot of time together, and that word became significant.”
Reports suggest that Spain is prepared to play the first two matches of the group stage without Yamal, who is recovering from a muscle injury. Spain will kick off their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on June 15.
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