Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, both carrying muscle injuries, were included in Spain’s World Cup squad, but La Roja will travel with no Real Madrid players for the first time. Coach Luis de la Fuente said he expects both forwards to be fit for Spain’s early m
MADRID — Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams were still nursing muscle injuries when Spain’s World Cup squad was announced on Monday, but the timing is what matters: coach Luis de la Fuente expects them to be available right at the start.
Both forwards came through late-season problems — Yamal and Williams with muscle injuries — and De la Fuente made it clear Spain won’t try to rush their recovery. “We are not going to speed up any process, we are in coordination with the clubs,” he said. “The information we have is that they will all be ready for the first or the second match. You always want to be careful. but if there’s a time when the players may want to take risks. it’s at the World Cup.”.
For the first time in Spain’s history of squad selections, La Roja will not be traveling to the tournament with any Real Madrid players. It’s a striking break from what many fans have grown used to, especially as Real Madrid endured its second consecutive season without a major title.
Spain opens its World Cup campaign in Group H against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta. The next test comes against Saudi Arabia on June 21 in Atlanta, before Spain faces Uruguay on June 26 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Defender Dean Huijsen, a Madrid player who had been contending for a spot, was left out. De la Fuente framed the decision away from club considerations. “I don’t look at the clubs, these are national team players,” he said. “The only thing I want is for them to be proud of representing the national team. I don’t look at it like maybe the fans may look at it.”.
If Spain’s squad is being shaped by what’s available — and by what’s been proven at club level this season — it’s also a reminder of how far the balance in Spanish football has shifted. Eight of the players named come from Barcelona, the Spanish league champion for two years in a row. Spain’s wider summer picture is also filled with familiar names playing for other nations. including France’s Kylian Mbappé. Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior and England’s Jude Bellingham.
The injury list inside the squad carries its own quiet story. Barcelona midfielder Fermín López is sidelined for Spain as expected after sustaining a fracture on his right foot this month.
But there are comebacks too. Midfielder Mikel Merino, who played only once for Arsenal since injuring his foot in January, is back in the squad. Also included despite a recent injury is Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabián Ruiz.
Spain’s return to the international spotlight didn’t come on a smooth line. The team bounced back from a round-of-16 elimination by Morocco at the 2022 World Cup, then won Euro 2024 in Germany. Spain also won the 2023 Nations League and were runner-up to Portugal in the 2025 edition.
Still, the World Cup question remains the same: Spain hasn’t gone further than the last 16 in the tournament since its lone title triumph in 2010.
Spain’s preparations begin on Saturday, with warm-up matches against Iraq on June 4 and Peru on June 9.
The squad is:
Goalkeepers: Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan García (Barcelona)
Defenders: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Eric García (Barcelona), Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Martín Zubimendi (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Gavi (Barcelona), Álex Baena (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Yéremi Pino (Crystal Palace), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Víctor Muñoz (Osasuna), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Ferran Torres (Barcelona)
Spain World Cup squad Lamine Yamal Nico Williams Luis de la Fuente Real Madrid players Euro 2024 Group H Cape Verde Saudi Arabia Uruguay Fermín López injury Mikel Merino return Fabián Ruiz inclusion