Spain is finalizing preparations to announce its squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Luis de la Fuente said the list is already complete in his mind. The Spain coach said he has chosen 26 players for the tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada, with the final call now resting on the last details rather than any major doubts.
De la Fuente said the decisions were made in advance, that Spain’s playing model and tactical principles are already in place, and that the squad may include new names who have not yet been called into the senior team. He also said there will be three goalkeepers, though he added he would like to bring more, underlining how far the selection has advanced before the formal announcement.
The coach’s comments matter because Spain is moving into the final stretch before a World Cup that will test a team built on continuity as much as talent. De la Fuente said the main squad is almost finalized, that preparation for a tournament of this scale takes months, and that his staff has spent that time watching players and opponents rather than reacting to club-season form in real time. He said specialists study up to 60 matches every week, while Spain’s coaches avoid interfering with players during the club season and instead focus on training camps and data analysis.
That long buildup has also been shaped by a clear football identity. De la Fuente said Spain will stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation, leaning on wing play and a strong central line, while keeping the ability to shift quickly from attack to defense. He said modern football demands that flexibility, and he believes the team is now more versatile and ready for different match scenarios. He also said the goalkeeping group remains one of Spain’s strongest assets and described David Raya as underestimated in the public view.
Several established names remain central to the plan. De la Fuente highlighted Rodrigo, Merino, Oyarzabal, Ferran and Dani Olmo as leaders and experienced players, while also pointing to Gavi’s return to a high level after serious injuries. Gavi earned his place only through his own work, the coach said, a remark that fits the tone he has used throughout this buildup: selection is being made strictly in the team’s interest, with no room for outside pressure.
That stance was also clear in his refusal to call up Sergio Ramos. De la Fuente said he does not allow outside factors to influence his choices and will not tolerate a lack of respect or team spirit inside the squad. For him, the idea of “family” has been embedded in the team since the Euros, when unity and mutual support became one of the national side’s defining strengths. He said the players spend a lot of time together, and that closeness has helped Spain develop.
Even with the squad nearly settled, he warned that not every player may feature in the opening matches, pointing to Dani Olmo’s situation at the Euros as an example. De la Fuente said he would not leave the national team after the World Cup, and he called the coming tournament historic because it will be the first with 48 teams. He named France, Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, England, Senegal, Morocco and Spain among the favorites, saying they all arrive with similar chances of success.
For Spain, the next step is less about rethinking the plan than putting a final name to it. The list is chosen, the structure is set, and the challenge now is whether the team’s balance, depth and long-running unity can carry it through a World Cup unlike any before it.
