In a decision that has sent shockwaves through the Spanish football landscape, Luis de la Fuente has officially announced his 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup in North America. For the first time in the tournament’s history, the La Roja roster features absolutely zero Real Madrid players.
It marks a painful milestone for the club, serving as a stark reflection of a highly turbulent and difficult domestic season. While arch-rivals Barcelona dominate the squad with eight call-ups, the capital giants have been completely frozen out of the national team picture.
The Huijsen Omission: Madrid’s Best Bet Left Behind
Perhaps the most glaring surprise for Madridistas is the exclusion of Dean Huijsen. The 21-year-old center-back was widely considered the most viable candidate from the club to make the flight to North America, especially given his regular presence under De la Fuente during the qualifiers when healthy.
Instead, the coaching staff opted for a completely transformed defensive unit. De la Fuente has leaned heavily on cross-town rivals Atlético de Madrid, calling up Marc Pubill and Marcos Llorente to cover central and right-sided defensive roles. They join a center-back rotation consisting of Aymeric Laporte, Eric García, and Pau Cubarsí.
Even veteran right-back Dani Carvajal, who is set to depart the Bernabéu this summer, failed to secure a spot, with Tottenham’s Pedro Porro firmly locking down the right flank.
The Premier League Contingent
De la Fuente’s selections highlight a heavy reliance on English top-flight talent, naming seven Premier League stars to the final list. A massive core of that influence stems from London and Manchester.
Arsenal leads the English contingent with three selected stars, as David Raya, Mikel Merino, and Martín Zubimendi all made the final cut. They are joined by Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, Tottenham’s Pedro Porro, Manchester City’s irreplaceable midfield anchor Rodri, and Crystal Palace’s dynamic attacker Yéremy Pino.
The Road to Gold
The 2010 World Cup winners enter the tournament as heavy favorites alongside France and England, carrying the immense momentum of their Euro 2024 triumph and Olympic gold in Paris.
Spain has been placed in Group H and will kick off their campaign in Atlanta on June 15th against tournament debutants Cape Verde, before navigating successive group matches against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
While the lack of domestic representation hurts the pride of the capital, a silver lining remains for Madrid: a completely uninterrupted summer break and pre-season under the watchful eye of incoming manager José Mourinho for the club’s Spanish core.