Spain's World Cup Squad Excludes All Real Madrid Players for First Time

Spain's national football team coach Luis de la Fuente has unveiled the squad for the 2026 World Cup, a list that makes history by omitting every player from the renowned Real Madrid club. This unprecedented decision means 'La Roja' will compete in Mexico, the US, and Canada without a single Real Madrid representative, a situation never before seen in the tournament's history.

While Real Madrid's Dean Huijsen, Fran García, and Gonzalo García were on the initial 55-player shortlist, none made the final cut announced on Monday. The squad does, however, feature players from prominent clubs such as Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Athletic Club, Celta de Vigo, Osasuna, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Chelsea. Huijsen, who had been a regular in previous call-ups since his March 2025 debut, reportedly lost his place due to inconsistent performance for Real Madrid.

"Fortunately, I am the national coach; I don't look at where any player comes from. I only look if a player has the possibility to play with us. I don't look at their team," De la Fuente explained regarding the absence of Real Madrid players. He was reminded that this situation had never occurred before.

Historically, Spain's World Cup squads have featured Real Madrid players. The lowest representation was in the 1950 Brazil World Cup, with only Luis Molowny. In the 2022 Qatar World Cup, two Real Madrid players, Dani Carvajal and Marco Asensio, were called up, though Carvajal missed the tournament due to injury. Coach Luis Enrique faced criticism then for the lack of Real Madrid representation. The 2021 Euro Cup also saw no Real Madrid players due to injuries to Carvajal and Sergio Ramos. This current exclusion, without any injury concerns, marks a unique moment for the Spanish national team as they prepare to compete in Group A alongside Uruguay, Cabo Verde, and Saudi Arabia, aiming for their second World Cup title.

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Fortunately, I am the national coach; I don't look at where any player comes from. I only look if a player has the possibility to play with us. I don't look at their team.