Spain names World Cup 2026 squad with no Real Madrid players

Coach Luis de la Fuente announced Spain’s 26‑man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the first time in 16 tournaments that the squad contains no Real Madrid players. The list features eight Barcelona‑based footballers – Joan García, Pau Cubarsi, Eric García, Gavi, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres – while the remaining spots are filled by athletes from clubs in the Premier League, Ligue 1, the Bundesliga and other La Liga sides.

Former Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme described the omission as “a sad day for Real Madrid” and warned that it should not happen again, expressing a desire for future national selections to include more Real Madrid talent. Spain will open Group H against Cape Verde before meeting Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, with de la Fuente emphasizing that selection decisions were based solely on sporting considerations.

Key quotes: “For me, the best team that exists, the biggest, is the Spanish national team,” de la Fuente said, and Riquelme added, “It’s a day a little sad for Real Madrid; we hope it never happens again.”