Spain coach Luis de la Fuente on Monday, 26 May unveiled a 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup, describing his selections as 'well-balanced' and 'well-considered' — a blend of trusted veterans and calculated gambles that reflects both his loyalty instincts and his tactical pragmatism. As defending European champions, Spain enter the tournament among the favourites.

Goalkeeping: A Surprise Omission

The most eyebrow-raising call came between the posts. Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro, a fixture in De la Fuente's squads for the past three years and widely praised for his dressing-room influence, has been dropped in favour of Barcelona's Joan Garcia, whose outstanding club form this season tipped the balance. The decision immediately raises a tactical question: will De la Fuente continue to start Unai Simon, or hand the gloves to Garcia, who has only one brief senior international appearance to his name?

Defensive Choices: Loyalty, Form and One Uncapped Wildcard

In defence, De la Fuente has largely rewarded those who delivered during qualifying. Marc Cucurella and Alex Grimaldo cover the left-back berth, while Marcos Llorente and Pedro Porro earn their places on merit. Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal, 34, misses out after a season disrupted by fitness issues that kept him out of his club's closing-month starting lineup.

Dean Huijsen, who burst onto the scene just over a year ago, is also absent — his form dipped in the second half of the season, and De la Fuente has opted for Aymeric Laporte's experience as a left-sided centre-back. Pau Cubarsi has been excellent for Barcelona, and Eric Garcia impressed across multiple positions — centre-back, right-back, and holding midfielder — during the club campaign.

Huijsen's exclusion opened the door for Atletico Madrid's Marc Pubill, 22, who earns his first senior call-up despite never having represented Spain at that level. Pubill carries eight under-21 caps and featured for Spain at the 2024 Olympic Games. His strong second half of the season — breaking into Atletico's starting XI — combined with his ability to operate in central defence or at right-back gives the squad tactical flexibility. In a tournament where the champion must play eight games in five weeks, that versatility is no small asset.

Midfield: Injury Setbacks and a Familiar Return

De la Fuente's midfield plans were disrupted last week when Fermin Lopez suffered a broken bone in his foot. His absence, however, created space for Barcelona teammate Gavi to return after a long-term knee injury — a development that adds creative depth to an already well-stocked engine room.

Spain's midfield remains the envy of most nations. Rodri and Martin Zubimendi anchor the holding roles; Fabian Ruiz, Gavi, and Mikel Merino provide box-to-box energy; Pedri brings vision and creativity; and Alex Baena adds width and drive. Merino's inclusion is notable given that the Arsenal midfielder missed much of the second half of the season — a clear signal of how highly De la Fuente rates him.

Attack: Youth, Pace and a Late Breakthrough

Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are both named despite recovering from hamstring injuries. Williams, who also managed a pelvic problem for much of the season, is considered a calculated risk — his talent, according to De la Fuente's logic, makes him too important to leave behind. Dani Olmo is listed as a forward but can also function as an advanced midfielder.

Borja Iglesias is the squad's only natural No. 9, though Mikel Oyarzabal is expected to spearhead a fluid, mobile attack. Ferran Torres can operate through the middle or on the right, Yeremy Pino provides width, and Osasuna's Victor Munoz earns a late call-up after a breakout La Liga season in which his pace consistently troubled opposition defences.

The Bigger Picture

De la Fuente's squad has few obvious weaknesses. It is built on the spine that won Euro 2024 but refreshed at the margins with youth and form-based picks. Spain will head into the World Cup as one of the tournament's strongest sides — and the pressure of the defending-champion tag will be felt from the first whistle.