News Focus
- Spain manager Luis de la Fuente selects 26 players for the 2026 World Cup finals
- FC Barcelona midfielder Gavi returns after missing 12 months with a knee injury
- No Real Madrid players made the final squad for the first time in the country’s history
- Eight Barcelona footballers are included in the team, including teenage winger Lamine Yamal
- Yamal filmed Gavi’s wild celebration when he heard his name in the squad list
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has confirmed his 26-man squad for this summer’s World Cup. The list features eight players from FC Barcelona. However, it does not include any footballers from Real Madrid. This is the first time this has ever happened.
The biggest news is the return of Gavi. The 21-year-old has spent the last year recovering from a serious injury. He tore his cruciate ligament while playing for Spain against Georgia in November 2023. This problem kept him out of the Euro 2024 victory.
Gavi has played only 13 matches this season. He has also managed just one minute of action for Spain since his injury. That brief appearance came during the Nations League semi-final against France last year.
An injury to Frenkie de Jong gave Gavi a chance to start matches in the final two months of Barcelona’s season. His strong performances convinced de la Fuente to include him.
Team mate Lamine Yamal shared a video of the moment Gavi learned of his selection. The footage shows the midfielder celebrating wildly at the training ground. Fans had feared he would miss the tournament.
Gonzalo Garcia from Real Madrid is only on the standby list of nine players. Defender Dean Huijsen also failed to make the final cut.
De la Fuente believes Spain can win the trophy. The squad will now begin their training camp.