Spain Stuns World With Historic World Cup Squad That Snubs Real Madrid Stars

Not a single Real Madrid player has been named in Luis de la Fuente's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup—an unprecedented moment in the national side's history.

The head coach unveiled his final selection on Monday, with the complete exclusion of any Madrid player dominating the conversation around his choices.

It is the first occasion in history that Spain will compete at a World Cup without a single player from Real Madrid. In contrast, eight members of Barcelona's title-winning squad have been called up, along with three players from Atlético Madrid.

The most high-profile Los Blancos omissions are defensive pair Dani Carvajal and Dean Huijsen, both of whom were widely anticipated to feature in the squad.

Carvajal and Huijsen Fail to Make the Cut

Estos nueve jugadores nos acompañarán en los entrenamientos y nos apoyarán hasta el partido ante Irak en A Coruña.#VamosEspaña | #CopaMundialFIFA pic.twitter.com/RuO08CTqpB

Carvajal, who featured in his last game as a Real Madrid player on Saturday, was omitted from the March international break, yet had received encouraging words from De la Fuente in recent weeks, with the coach referring to the experienced right back as "our captain."

Huijsen's exclusion, meanwhile, was arguably more surprising, given that he had earned seven caps for Spain under De la Fuente over the past two years.

Less shockingly, there was also no room for longer-shot Madrid candidates such as Álvaro Carreras, Raúl Asencio, Fran García, Dani Ceballos, or Gonzalo García. The latter will, however, join the squad for training sessions before the group departs for the United States.

The snubbing of Madrid's players is the latest blow in a torrid season for the club, who finished the campaign without silverware and embroiled in off-pitch controversy.

'I Don't Look at Where Players Come From'—De La Fuente

Speaking to the press after revealing Spain's World Cup squad, De la Fuente insisted his selections were not influenced by club allegiances.

"Fortunately, I don't look at where each player comes from," he told reporters. "I only look at whether the player can play with us. They are national team players, not players from individual clubs. I don't think I have any ulterior motives. I can't give advice to anyone. I just want the players to be proud to represent our country."

When asked specifically about Huijsen's absence, De la Fuente shifted focus toward the players he had selected instead.

"I want to talk about why Eric [García] and [Marc] Pubill are coming," he said. "They've performed very well this season. I have to make decisions, and we felt it was the right time. That's why we made this decision. I already said I was going to look at players who haven't been with us."

On Spain's prospects of claiming the trophy for the first time since 2010, the coach responded: "We are among the favorites, but this doesn't guarantee anything. There are teams at the same level. France, England, Brazil ... they are just as much contenders as we are. In football, you can lose even when you are superior to your opponent. We will fight for everything."

Huijsen Hits Back at Omission

In the wake of the announcement, Huijsen appeared to signal his frustration at being overlooked through a social media post.

The centre-back reshared his father's Instagram story, which featured a graphic of Sofascore's Team of the Season—a lineup that included the young defender.

The 21-year-old has had a mixed debut campaign at Real Madrid following his move from Bournemouth last summer.

After a difficult opening spell, he grew into one of Madrid's more reliable performers, clocking 40 appearances across all competitions. The youngster did, however, struggle at times to truly distinguish himself during a challenging season for the club.

Poor Madrid Stars Can Have Few Complaints

Back in 2022, then Spain boss Luis Enrique raised eyebrows by naming a squad that featured just two Real Madrid players: Dani Carvajal and Marco Asensio.

Luis Enrique was branded an anti-Madridista by Los Blancos supporters for that decision four years ago, but the backlash is unlikely to be anywhere near as fierce this time. The squad selection is ultimately a mirror of Madrid's underwhelming campaign.

An injury-plagued season has denied Carvajal the farewell he merits, while De la Fuente has chosen the form and fitness of Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid) and Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur) over the out-of-contract 34-year-old at right back.

Meanwhile, Huijsen's inconsistent debut season at Real Madrid has seen him drop behind Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club), Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid), Eric García, and Pau Cubarsi (both Barcelona) in the centre-back pecking order.

For context, Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning squad featured five Real Madrid players, while the Euro 2024 championship side included three.