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World Cup 2026: Lamine Yamal Leads Spain Squad With No Real Madrid Players

From TVN Panamá · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Spain's squad for the 2026 World Cup notably excludes all players from Real Madrid, a first in the nation's World Cup history.
  • Barcelona's Lamine Yamal leads the squad despite recent injury concerns, alongside new defensive call-ups Eric García and Marc Pubill.
  • Coach Luis de la Fuente expressed optimism about the fitness of injured players like Yamal and Nico Williams, aiming for their availability from the first match.

Spain's squad for the 2026 World Cup will feature Lamine Yamal, the young Barcelona forward, leading the team despite recent injury issues. Notably, the list, announced by coach Luis de la Fuente, marks the first time in history that no Real Madrid players will represent Spain at a World Cup.

I don't look at whether a player comes from one club or another. I look globally if they can be a player for the Spanish national team.

· Luis de la FuenteThe Spanish national team coach explained his selection criteria when asked about the absence of Real Madrid players.

The defensive ranks see new call-ups in Barcelona's Eric García and Atlético de Madrid's Marc Pubill. De la Fuente defended his selection choices, emphasizing his focus on overall player capability rather than club affiliation. He highlighted Pubill's versatility, noting his ability to play as a fullback or center-back, and praised the strong performances of both Pubill and García this season.

We have believed that it was the opportune moment because they are in a very good moment.

· Luis de la FuenteDe la Fuente justified the inclusion of Eric García and Marc Pubill, noting their current form.

Coach De la Fuente expressed confidence in the recovery of several key players who have been dealing with injuries. Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams have been recovering from muscular injuries, while Mikel Merino has overcome a stress fracture in his foot. "We are very calm. If there are no setbacks, we will be able to count on almost everyone from the first match," De la Fuente stated.

We are very calm. If there are no setbacks, we will be able to count on almost everyone from the first match.

· Luis de la FuenteThe coach expressed optimism about the fitness of injured players ahead of the World Cup.

The medical teams of the national squad and the players' clubs are working closely to monitor their progress. De la Fuente stressed a cautious approach to player rehabilitation, ensuring no processes are rushed, with the aim of having all selected players available for the first or second match of the tournament. Spain is grouped in Group H and begins its World Cup campaign on June 15 against Cape Verde.

We are not going to accelerate any process. The dates and data we have are that they will all be available for the first or second match.

· Luis de la FuenteDe la Fuente detailed the cautious approach to player recovery, aiming for full squad availability.
About this summary

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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