Rodri named Spain captain for 2026 World Cup, the first foreign‑club skipper; Spain also appoints referee Alejandro Hern

Midfielder Rodrigo Hernández, known as Rodri and a Manchester City player, will serve as captain of the Spanish national football team at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. He becomes the first Spain captain to lead the side while playing for a foreign club, ending a 92‑year tradition of captains from Spanish‑based teams. Coach Luis de la Fuente selected a 26‑man squad that includes eight players abroad; Rodri, with 62 caps, replaces Dani Carvajal and Álvaro Morata as the captain and will wear the armband in Spain’s opening match against Cape Verde on 15 June.

Alejandro Hernández Hernández, a 43‑year‑old referee from Arrecife, Lanzarote, has been named the sole Spanish official for the tournament. Selected after a rigorous FIFA process, he joins the 52‑referee "Team One" roster that will oversee the 104 matches. Hernández, who has officiated in La Liga since 2012, will also be part of the VAR panel, representing Spain among the international officials overseeing the World Cup.