Gavi returns to Spain setup while Barcelona supply eight players for 2026 World Cup

• Spain named a World Cup squad without a Real Madrid player for the first time since 1950
• Barcelona provide eight players in Luis de la Fuente’s 26-man squad
• Gavi returned to the national team after recovering from a serious knee injury
• Spain are expected to use a 4-3-3 system built around Rodri, Pedri and Lamine Yamal

Spain national football team coach Luis de la Fuente named his 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday, with FC Barcelona players dominating the selection while every eligible Real Madrid C.F. player was left out. It marks the first time since 1950 that Spain will participate in a World Cup without a Real Madrid player in the squad.

Barcelona provides eight players in the final squad, including teenage star Lamine Yamal, midfielders Pedri and Gavi, defender Pau Cubarsí, as well as Eric García, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, and goalkeeper Joan García.

The biggest emotional storyline was the return of Gavi, who missed Euro 2024 after suffering a serious knee injury in November 2023. The 21-year-old spent much of the past two seasons recovering before returning to Barcelona’s first team during the second half of the 2025-26 campaign.

Speaking after announcing the squad, de la Fuente defended his selections and dismissed suggestions that club affiliation influenced his decisions. According to Reuters, de la Fuente said,

“I don’t look at club badges. I look at players who can help us compete and represent Spain with pride.

“This group has earned the opportunity to be here because of merit, commitment, and performance.”

Real Madrid Players Left Out

Among the notable eligible Real Madrid-linked players omitted were:

• Dani Carvajal
• Dean Huijsen

Carvajal struggled with injuries throughout the season, while Huijsen narrowly missed the final cut despite recent involvement with Spain’s senior team.

Analysis of His Squad Choices- Why Barcelona Players Dominate

Spain’s core style under de la Fuente is heavily possession-based, technical, and positional, very similar to Barcelona’s football structure.

Players like:

• Pedri
• Gavi
• Lamine Yamal
• Pau Cubarsí

already understand:

• positional rotations
• pressing triggers
• short-passing structures
• compact build-up play

That reduces tactical adjustment time in international football, where managers barely get training sessions.

Spain’s Full Squad

Goalkeepers:
Unai Simón, David Raya, Joan García

Defenders:
Marc Cucurella, Alejandro Grimaldo, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Eric García, Marc Pubill, Pedro Porro, Marcos Llorente

Midfielders:
Rodri, Pedri, Gavi, Fabián Ruiz, Martín Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Álex Baena

Forwards:
Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Mikel Oyarzabal, Yeremy Pino, Borja Iglesias, Víctor Muñoz

Projected Spain Starting XI

Spanish media project Spain to continue with de la Fuente’s preferred 4-3-3 system:

Projected XI:
Unai Simón; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri, Fabián Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Nico Williams.

Spain head into the tournament among the favorites after winning Euro 2024, with de la Fuente building around a young Barcelona-led core supported by experienced players such as Rodri and Laporte.