Spain has announced its 2026 World Cup squad, with injured Lamine Yamal making the list. However. Real Madrid players did not feature in the squad for the first time ever.
Real defenders Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal were left out, while 18-year-old Yamal missed the final month of the season after tearing his left hamstring in Barcelona game on April 22.
“I don’t look at one club or another. I don’t have that local bias a fan might have. For me, it’s more global,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente.
“The only thing I want is for these footballers to feel proud of representing the national team.”
Real Madrid ended the season trophyless for the second year in a row. Los Blancos  finished second, with eight points behind La Liga champions Barcelona.
Other injured players in Spain’s World Cup squad include Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, who has been struggling with a hamstring problem, and  Mikel Merino, who returned in Arsenal’s last Premier League game of the season on Sunday after four months out with a stress fracture in the foot.
Arsenal duo  David Raya and Martin Zubimendi, Tottenham’s Pedro Porro, Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, Manchester City’s Rodri and Crystal Palace’s Yeremy Pino also made the list. Newcomers Eric Garcia and Marc Pubill have been called up after impressing for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid respectively. Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez was ruled out with a broken foot last week.
Spain open their World Cup campaign against debutants Cape Verde on 15 June. Then the European champions face Saudi Arabia on 21 June and Uruguay on 26 June in Group H.
Spain World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan Garcia (Barcelona).
Defenders: Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen).
Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Gavi (Barcelona), Fabian Ruiz (Paris St-Germain), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid).
Forwards: Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Victor Munoz (Osasuna), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo).
