Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has confirmed that his 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is already finalised, with the official announcement scheduled for Monday following the final round of La Liga fixtures. Speaking in an interview with former Spain international Mario Suarez, De la Fuente said the 'squad is already decided and the approach and strategy are too.'

Key Decisions on Goalkeepers and Uncapped Players

De la Fuente acknowledged it was 'possible' he could include players who have never previously represented Spain at senior level. On the goalkeeping front, he indicated that three stoppers could make the cut — a move that puts either Barcelona's Joan Garcia or Real Sociedad's Alex Remiro at risk of missing out, as only one of the two is expected to be selected.

Injured Stars Yamal, Williams and Merino in Contention

The Spain coach hinted strongly that injured players — including Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Mikel Merino — remain very much in his plans despite their fitness concerns. He drew a direct parallel with Dani Olmo, who started UEFA Euro 2024 carrying an injury yet went on to become the tournament's top scorer. 'He gave the key pass to Merino against Germany, he cleared that shot off the line against England. He had to be there, and it was worth the wait and the risk,' De la Fuente said.

According to reports citing Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Spain are prepared to manage Yamal carefully through the opening two group-stage matches. 'Communication between Barca and the Royal Spanish Football Federation is constant, with full consensus on not exposing Lamine in the first two matches,' the outlet reportedly stated on Wednesday.

The Scouting Operation Behind the Selection

De la Fuente shed light on the scale of preparation underpinning his squad decisions, revealing that he and his coaching staff watch '60 matches a week' and travel for approximately '180 days a year' to monitor both Spain's players and potential opponents. The depth of that surveillance operation reflects the seriousness with which the reigning European champions are approaching the World Cup.

Team Spirit at the Core of Spain's Identity

Beyond tactics and personnel, De la Fuente stressed that the defining strength of this Spain side is 'unity' and 'team spirit.' He recalled how the concept of 'family' emerged organically during Euro 2024 — a tournament Spain won — and has since become a defining characteristic of the squad's culture. 'We coined the term 'family' because we spent so much time together, and that term stuck,' he said.

With the squad announcement imminent and several fitness questions still unresolved, all eyes will be on Monday's official list to see whether De la Fuente's calculated risk on injured stars pays off once again.