MADRID (AP) — Spain’s World Cup squad does not include Real Madrid players for the first time though injured forwards Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams were picked on Monday.
Yamal and Williams suffered leg muscle injuries in the past month. However, coach Luis de la Fuente expects them to be fit for the start of soccer’s showcase.
“We are not going to speed up any process, we are in coordination with the clubs,” De la Fuente said. “The information we have is that they will all be ready for the first or the second match. You always want to be careful, but if there’s a time when the players may want to take risks it’s at the World Cup.”
The unveiling of the squad was made with a video that included Spain King Felipe VI and other citizens making the name announcements.
Defenders Dean Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras were among the Madrid players contending for Spain’s squad but they were left out.
“I don’t look at the clubs, these are national team players,” De la Fuente said. “The only thing I want is for them to be proud of representing the national team. I don’t look at it like maybe the fans may look at it.”
Madrid will have players at the World Cup for other nations, including France’s Kylian Mbappé, Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior and England’s Jude Bellingham.
Madrid endured a second consecutive season without a major title while La Liga champion Barcelona has produced eight players in Spain’s squad.
Barcelona midfielder Fermín López, who broke his right foot this month, was sidelined for Spain as expected. Other players not picked by De la Fuente included veterans Álvaro Morata, Dani Carvajal, Isco and Marco Asensio.
Midfielder Mikel Merino, who played only once for Arsenal since injuring his foot in January, was back in the squad. Also included despite an injury layoff this year was Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabián Ruiz.
Gavi, who missed Euro 2024 because or a knee injury, was called up for a midfield that will also include Barcelona teammate Pedri. Another Barcelona player going is 19-year-old defender Pau Cubarsí.
Spain’s preparations will begin on Saturday. It plays warmup matches against Iraq on June 4 and Peru on June 9.
The European champion opens its Group H campaign against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta. It then faces Saudi Arabia on June 21 in Atlanta and Uruguay on June 26 in Guadalajara, Mexico. La Roja is seeking its second World Cup title.
It rebounded from a round-of-16 elimination by Morocco at the 2022 World Cup by winning Euro 2024 in Germany. La Roja also won the 2023 Nations League and was runner-up to Portugal in the 2025 edition.
Spain hasn’t gone past the last 16 in the World Cup since its lone title in 2010.
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Spain:
Goalkeepers: Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan García (Barcelona)
Defenders: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Eric García (Barcelona), Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Martín Zubimendi (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Gavi (Barcelona), Álex Baena (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Yéremi Pino (Crystal Palace), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Víctor Muñoz (Osasuna), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Ferran Torres (Barcelona)
___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
