Spain coach Luis de la Fuente dropped a bombshell when he announced his official squad for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, a decision that sparked a storm of controversy in Spanish sporting circles. For the first time in history, the squad was devoid of any Real Madrid players.
The squad featured a strong Barcelona presence, with eight players included, a number that could have reached nine had Fermín López not been injured before the final announcement. This was seen by many as a clear shift in the balance of power within the Spanish national team.
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The Spanish squad included prominent names such as Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Rodri, Unai Simón, and Cuauhtémoc de la Cervera. However, the omission of Dani Carvajal and Dean Huijsen was a surprise, despite their strong chances of being included in the final squad.
The biggest shock for Real Madrid wasn’t just the exclusion of their stars, but the breaking of a long-standing tradition. The Spanish national team had never before entered a major tournament without a single player from the club.
According to reports close to Real Madrid’s management, the decision sparked surprise and anger within Valdebebas, especially since Carvajal recently returned and confirmed his full fitness, while Huijsen was one of the most prominent players to feature for the national team in recent tournaments.
Voices within the club believe that this reflects a clear shift in the Spanish Football Federation’s policy towards Real Madrid, amidst accusations of a growing marginalization of the club’s players within the national team in recent years.
It is also estimated that the absence of Real Madrid players from the national team could negatively impact public interest in the Spanish national team, given the immense global popularity of the Royal Club and its vast fan base.
It seems that Luis de la Fuente has decided to rely on a new project based on a young group led by Barcelona stars, a move that could reshape the identity of the Spanish national team in the coming period. However, it has also opened the door wide to criticism due to the exclusion of players with significant experience in major tournaments.
