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Spain’s 2026 World Cup squad is aiming to replicate their Euro 2024 success and bring home the coveted trophy for a second time.

With the World Cup just months away, the final shape of Luis de la Fuente’s team is becoming clearer.

The 2026 World Cup is approaching rapidly, and as national squads begin to settle, it’s evident that Luis de la Fuente’s Spain — built around their trademark 4-3-3 formation — are once again among the favourites to clinch international glory. After their dominant Euro 2024 campaign, in which they outclassed nearly every opponent, expectations are sky-high.

La Roja haven’t won a World Cup knockout match since lifting the trophy in 2010. Despite opening their 2022 campaign with a 7-0 demolition of Costa Rica, they exited the tournament without scoring in the penalty shootout against Morocco. However, such an outcome appears highly unlikely this time.

The era of tiki-taka and the once-dominant Real Madrid-Barcelona axis in the national setup has faded. In its place stands a dynamic, high-pressing system that still includes La Masia graduates but also blends talent from across Spain and Europe — with several of the nation’s top stars now thriving in the Premier League and beyond.

Teen sensation Lamine Yamal headlines the squad once again, joined by his Barcelona teammates Pedri, Pau Cubarsi, Joan Garcia — who is in line for his first cap — and Dani Olmo, who took an unconventional route through Croatia and the Red Bull system before shining at the Euros. De la Fuente has also handed first-time call-ups to Arsenal’s Cristhian Mosquera and Real Sociedad’s Ander Barrenetxea, alongside familiar Premier League names like Pablo Fornals, Yeremy Pino, and Pedro Porro.

There are still key decisions ahead before June. Mikel Merino is battling to return from injury, while captain Alvaro Morata and star winger Nico Williams have not been included this time. Rising prospects Samu Aghehowa, Pablo Barrios, and Jesus Rodriguez have also missed out on the March internationals — losing a crucial chance to impress.

Spain will face Serbia in Villarreal after the cancellation of the planned Finalissima fixture against Argentina in Lusail, followed by a friendly against Egypt in Catalonia. Fans are hopeful they’ll debut their striking new away kit for these matches.

Goalkeepers: David Raya (Arsenal), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad), Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), Joan Garcia (Barcelona)

Defenders: Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur), Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Cristhian Mosquera (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid), Rodri (Manchester City), Pablo Fornals (Betis), Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Carlos Soler (Real Sociedad)

Forwards: Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Fermin Lopez (Barcelona), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ander Barrenetxea (Real Sociedad), Victor Munoz (Osasuna)

Upcoming Fixtures:

March 27, 2026: Spain vs Serbia, Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal, Spain

March 31, 2026: Spain vs Egypt, RCDE Stadium, Cornellà de Llobregat, Spain

June 15, 2026: Spain vs Cape Verde, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States

June 21, 2026: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States

June 26, 2026: Uruguay vs Spain, Estadio Akron, Zapopan, Mexico

September 26, 2026: England vs Spain, Wembley Stadium, London, England

September 29, 2026: Spain vs Croatia, Venue TBC, Spain

October 3, 2026: Spain vs Czech Republic, Venue TBC, Spain

October 6, 2026: Croatia vs Spain, Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia

November 12, 2026: Czech Republic vs Spain, Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czech Republic

November 15, 2026: Spain vs England, Venue TBC, Spain

Recent Results:

November 18, 2025: Spain 2-2 Turkiye, Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, Spain

November 15, 2025: Georgia 0-4 Spain, Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia

October 14, 2025: Spain 4-0 Bulgaria, José Zorrilla Stadium, Valladolid, Spain

October 11, 2025: Spain 2-0 Georgia, Estadio Martínez Valero, Elche, Spain

September 7: Turkiye 0-6 Spain, Konya Metropolitan Municipality Stadium, Konya, Turkiye

September 4: Bulgaria 0-3 Spain, Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria

June 8: Portugal 2-2 Spain (5-3 pens), Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany

June 5: Spain 5-4 France, MHPArena, Stuttgart, Germany

March 23: Spain 3-3 Netherlands (5-4 pens), Mestalla Stadium, Valencia, Spain

March 20: Netherlands 2-2 Spain, Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Head coach Luis de la Fuente has been part of the Spanish national setup for over 12 years, having led the under-19, under-21, and under-23 Olympic teams before taking charge of the senior side in 2022.

Under his leadership, Spain triumphed at the 2024 European Championships, combining youthful flair and seasoned experience to lift the trophy for the fourth time. His background with the youth sides has allowed him to seamlessly integrate several of those players into the senior squad.

Lamine Yamal has already established himself as a serial winner. Before turning 18, he had secured two league titles, a Copa del Rey, and a European Championship, and earned second place in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings. At Euro 2024, he notched four assists and scored once in seven appearances — his stunning semi-final goal from 30 yards against Mike Maignan was widely regarded as the goal of the tournament.

Currently ranked number one on FourFourTwo’s list of the best right wingers in the world, Yamal will look to add a World Cup triumph to his growing list of achievements when he turns 19 in July 2026.

— Ewan Gennery, Freelance Writer