In a historic move, Luis de la Fuente has named a 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup that does not include any players from Real Madrid, marking a first for the Spanish national team.

Notable Absences from the Squad

The announcement made on Monday has sparked significant discussion, particularly regarding the absence of prominent Real Madrid players. This is the first time Spain will compete in a World Cup without representation from the club. Among the most surprising omissions are defensive stalwarts Dani Carvajal and Dean Huijsen, both of whom were anticipated to be part of the team. Carvajal, who recently played his final match for Real Madrid, had previously been left out of the March internationals but received encouragement from De la Fuente, who referred to him as “our captain.” Huijsen’s exclusion is particularly striking given his seven appearances for Spain under De la Fuente in the last two years.

Additionally, other Madrid players such as Álvaro Carreras, Raúl Asencio, Fran García, Dani Ceballos, and Gonzalo García were also overlooked. However, García will join the squad for training prior to their departure for America. The absence of these players adds to a challenging season for Real Madrid, who concluded the campaign without any trophies and faced various off-field issues.

De la Fuente Addresses the Media

In a press conference following the roster announcement, De la Fuente emphasized that his selections were not influenced by club affiliations. “Fortunately, I don’t look at where each player comes from,” he stated. “I only look at whether the player can play with us. They are national team players, not players from individual clubs.” He dismissed any suggestions of ulterior motives and expressed his desire for players to take pride in representing Spain.

When questioned about Huijsen's omission, De la Fuente shifted the focus to the players selected, highlighting the performances of Eric García and Marc Pubill. He noted, “I have to make decisions, and we felt it was the right time.” Regarding Spain's prospects of winning the World Cup for the first time since 2010, he remarked, “We are among the favorites.”