Spain World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
The Spain World Cup Squad 2026 has reached the quarterfinals in North America. Luis de la Fuente’s 26 players topped Group H, beat Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32 and edged Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16, and La Roja now face Belgium for a place in the semifinals.
The squad made headlines the day it was named: for the first time in Spain’s World Cup history, no Real Madrid player made the cut, and Manchester City midfielder Rodri wears the captain’s armband.
De la Fuente leaned heavily on La Liga. Seventeen of the 26 players come from Spanish clubs, eight from Barcelona alone, while seven play in the Premier League. Spain arrived ranked second in the world and have looked the part, winning four of their five matches so far and keeping a clean sheet in every game.
Below is the full roster, every result, the knockout path, and the key players driving La Roja’s run.
Spain World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Unai Simón | Athletic Club | 29 |
| GK | David Raya | Arsenal | 30 |
| GK | Joan García | Barcelona | 25 |
| DF | Marc Cucurella | Chelsea | 27 |
| DF | Alejandro Grimaldo | Bayer Leverkusen | 30 |
| DF | Pau Cubarsí | Barcelona | 19 |
| DF | Eric García | Barcelona | 25 |
| DF | Aymeric Laporte | Athletic Club | 32 |
| DF | Marc Pubill | Atlético Madrid | 22 |
| DF | Marcos Llorente | Atlético Madrid | 31 |
| DF | Pedro Porro | Tottenham Hotspur | 25 |
| MF | Mikel Merino | Arsenal | 29 |
| MF | Pedri | Barcelona | 23 |
| MF | Fabián Ruiz | Paris Saint-Germain | 30 |
| MF | Martín Zubimendi | Arsenal | 27 |
| MF | Gavi | Barcelona | 22 |
| MF | Rodri (C) | Manchester City | 29 |
| MF | Álex Baena | Atlético Madrid | 24 |
| FW | Mikel Oyarzabal | Real Sociedad | 29 |
| FW | Dani Olmo | Barcelona | 28 |
| FW | Nico Williams | Athletic Club | 23 |
| FW | Yéremy Pino | Crystal Palace | 23 |
| FW | Ferran Torres | Barcelona | 26 |
| FW | Borja Iglesias | Celta Vigo | 33 |
| FW | Víctor Múñoz | Osasuna | 22 |
| FW | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | 18 |
(C) = captain. Squad confirmed by the RFEF on May 25, 2026. Average age 26.2, with Lamine Yamal (18) the youngest and Borja Iglesias (33) the oldest. Yamal, Cubarsí, Pubill, and Víctor Múñoz are World Cup debutants.
Spain World Cup Squad 2026 Results and Performance
Spain won Group H with seven points from two wins and a draw, then carried their perfect defensive record into the knockouts. A goalless draw with debutants Cape Verde opened the campaign, before a 4-0 rout of Saudi Arabia and a 1-0 win over Uruguay sealed top spot.
In the Round of 32, two Mikel Oyarzabal goals and a first international strike from Pedro Porro delivered a 3-0 win over Austria. Spain then edged Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16, with substitute Mikel Merino heading a stoppage time winner to end Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup.
| Date | Match | Result | Round / Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 15, 2026 | Spain vs Cape Verde | 0-0 | Group H, Atlanta |
| Jun 21, 2026 | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | 4-0 | Group H, Atlanta |
| Jun 26, 2026 | Uruguay vs Spain | 0-1 | Group H, Guadalajara |
| Jul 2, 2026 | Spain vs Austria | 3-0 | Round of 32, Los Angeles |
| Jul 6, 2026 | Portugal vs Spain | 0-1 | Round of 16, Dallas |
Lamine Yamal opened his World Cup account inside ten minutes against Saudi Arabia, with Oyarzabal scoring twice before the break and an own goal completing the rout. Álex Baena settled the Uruguay game just before half time after a goalkeeper error, sending Marcelo Bielsa’s side home and lifting Cape Verde into second.
Oyarzabal then struck twice against Austria and Porro headed in his first Spain goal, before Merino’s late header saw off Portugal in Dallas. Five matches, five clean sheets: goalkeeper Unai Simón and 19 year old Pau Cubarsí have not conceded a single goal all tournament.
Key Players to Watch
Mikel Oyarzabal | Real Sociedad Oyarzabal is Spain’s leading scorer at the tournament with four goals, including braces against Saudi Arabia and Austria. His movement and clinical finishing give De la Fuente a reliable focal point up front heading into the quarterfinals.
Lamine Yamal | Barcelona At 18, Yamal is one of the most talked about players in world football. A hamstring injury kept him out from late April, but he recovered in time and scored against Saudi Arabia. His directness and close control make him one of the most dangerous wingers at the World Cup.
Rodri (C) | Manchester City Spain’s captain missed most of the 2024/25 club season with a knee injury but is back to full fitness. The Ballon d’Or winner anchors the midfield, reading the game from deep and protecting the back four. A fully fit Rodri raises Spain’s ceiling considerably.
Mikel Merino | Arsenal Merino has become Spain’s super sub, climbing off the bench to head the stoppage time winner against Portugal. His aerial threat and late runs into the box give De la Fuente a game changer to call on in tight knockout ties.
Pau Cubarsí | Barcelona Cubarsí is 19 and already anchors Spain’s defence. He reads danger early, wins headers calmly, and steps out with the ball. His composure has helped Spain keep five straight clean sheets and he has become one of the tournament’s breakout names.
Spain World Cup 2026 Schedule and Knockout Path
Spain topped Group H, beat Austria and Portugal in the first two knockout rounds, and now meet Belgium in the quarterfinals in Los Angeles. Kick off times are listed in Eastern Time (ET). Win, and Spain reach the semifinals for the first time since 2010.
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result / Kickoff (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round of 32 | Jul 2, 2026 | Austria | Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood | Won 3-0 |
| Round of 16 | Jul 6, 2026 | Portugal | Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington | Won 1-0 |
| Quarterfinal | Jul 10, 2026 | Belgium | Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood | 3:00 PM |
The quarterfinal against Belgium is Spain’s biggest test yet, with the Red Devils arriving on the back of a 4-1 win over hosts United States. The winner books a semifinal place.
See the full 2026 World Cup schedule for every knockout fixture and venue.
How Spain Qualified for World Cup 2026
Spain reached the finals through UEFA European qualifying, topping Group E without losing a match. Five wins and one draw gave them 16 points from a possible 18, with 21 goals scored and just two conceded. Mikel Merino hit a hat trick in a 6-0 win over Turkey in Konya, and Spain sealed their place with a game to spare, winning 4-0 away in Georgia on November 15, 2025, Oyarzabal scoring twice.
Head Coach: Luis de la Fuente
Luis de la Fuente took charge of Spain in December 2022 after the Qatar World Cup exit under Luis Enrique. A former professional and long-time coach of Spain’s youth sides, he delivered quickly, winning Euro 2024 in his first major tournament by beating England 2-1 in Berlin.
His preferred setup is a 4-3-3 with Rodri anchoring the midfield, built on quick ball circulation and aggressive pressing. Spain do not just control possession, they press hard to win it back. The same system has carried them through qualifying, the group stage, and into the quarterfinals.
Group H Final Standings
Spain topped Group H ahead of debutants Cape Verde, who reached the knockouts in their first World Cup. Uruguay finished third and were eliminated, while Saudi Arabia went out bottom.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | Cape Verde | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Uruguay | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | Saudi Arabia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
See the full breakdown at the 2026 World Cup groups hub.
FAQ About the Spain World Cup Squad 2026
How did Spain reach the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals?
Spain topped Group H with seven points, then beat Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32 and Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16. Mikel Merino’s stoppage time header against Portugal sent La Roja into the quarterfinals with a clean sheet in all five matches.
Who does Spain play next at the World Cup 2026?
Spain face Belgium in the quarterfinals on July 10, 2026 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, kicking off at 3:00 PM ET. The winner reaches the semifinals. Belgium arrive after beating hosts United States 4-1.
Why are there no Real Madrid players in Spain’s squad?
For the first time in Spain’s World Cup history, Luis de la Fuente named no Real Madrid player. He picked on current form, favouring a Barcelona core of eight players plus in form names from the Premier League and elsewhere.
What formation does Spain play under Luis de la Fuente?
Spain play a 4-3-3. Rodri sits as the deepest midfielder, with Pedri and Gavi around him. Yamal and Nico Williams push high and wide, and the full backs overlap when Spain control possession.
Where can I watch Spain’s 2026 World Cup games in the US?
Fox Sports shows Spain’s matches in English, with streaming on the Fox One app. Telemundo carries Spanish language coverage, available to stream on Peacock. Fox and Telemundo hold the full US broadcast rights for the 2026 tournament.
Spain’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Spain World Cup Squad 2026 has done exactly what favourites should, topping Group H and reaching the quarterfinals without conceding a single goal.
Wins over Austria and Portugal in the knockout rounds showed both control and a cutting edge, and a fully fit Rodri and Yamal give De la Fuente the tools to go all the way.
Belgium now stand between Spain and a first semifinal since 2010. Get past them, and a genuine title challenge comes into view. On current form, with the meanest defence in the tournament, La Roja look every bit like second favourites to lift the trophy.
