Injured strikers Lamine Yamal and Neco Williams have been included in Spain’s World Cup squad announced on Monday, although the team will travel for the first time without any Real Madrid players.Yamal and Williams suffered muscle injuries near the end of the season, but Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said he expected them to recover in time before the tournament.“We will not speed up any process, we are coordinating with the clubs,” De La Fuente said. “The information we have is that they will all be ready for the first or second match. We must always be careful, but if there is ever a time when players might want to take a risk, it is in the World Cup.”Spain begins its campaign in Group H against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta. They will then play the Saudi Arabia national football team on June 21 in Atlanta before facing the Uruguay national football team on June 26 in Guadalajara, Mexico.Defender Dean Hewison, who was among the Real Madrid players competing for a place in the team, was excluded.“I don’t look at the clubs, these are the national team players,” De La Fuente said. “The only thing I want is for them to be proud to represent the national team.
“I don’t look at it like the fans might look at it.”The team includes eight players from Barcelona, which won the Spanish League title in the past two seasons. Meanwhile, Real Madrid finished the second consecutive season without a major trophy.Real Madrid players will still participate in the World Cup with other countries’ teams, including France’s Kylian Mbappe, Brazil’s Vinicius Junior, and England’s Jude Bellingham.Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez has been ruled out as expected after suffering a fracture in his right foot this month.Midfielder Mikel Merino returned to the squad after appearing only once for Arsenal since suffering a foot injury last January. Paris Saint-Germain’s Fabian Ruiz was also included despite his recent injury.Spain’s preparations begin on Saturday, with friendly matches against the Iraqi national football team on June 4 and the Peruvian national football team on June 9.Spain recovered from a round-of-16 exit to the Moroccan national football team in the 2022 World Cup by winning the 2024 European Championship in Germany.
La Roja also won the 2023 Nations League and finished second behind the Portugal national football team in the 2025 edition.Spain has not gone beyond the round of 16 in the World Cup since winning its only title in 2010.a team:Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Juan Garcia (Barcelona).In defence: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Pau Cuparci (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Mark Popile (Atletico Madrid).Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Martin Szobimendi (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Javi (Barcelona), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid).Attack: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Jeremi Benno (Crystal Palace), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Victor Muñoz (Osasuna), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo), Neco Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Ferran Torres (Barcelona).
