Spain drop their list. The road to 2026 begins.
By: Akinde Oluwaseun
Luis de la Fuente stood under the bright lights at Las Rozas on a late August morning. Papers shuffled. Cameras clicked. And just like that, Spain’s journey toward the 2026 World Cup had its first names etched into the story.
The squad? A cocktail of everything Spanish football claims to be right now—battle‑hardened veterans, fearless kids, and a sprinkling of Premier League flavor. You look at it and think: yep, this team balances wisdom with wild energy.
Spain open away. Not gentle openings either. First Sofia, staring down Bulgaria in a hostile Thursday night clash. Then Turkey, loud and fiery, waiting in Konya on Sunday. Both kicks off at 20:45 local time—prime time for stress levels.
La Roja called up Barcelona’s teenage wonderkids, Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí—two youngsters playing like they skipped the whole “rookie nerves” phase. There’s Premier League steel too: Arsenal’s Zubimendi and Merino, Chelsea’s shaggy‑haired Cucurella, all penciled in.
And don’t forget the old guard. Morata still leading the line, Rodrigo pulling strings, Carvajal keeping order at the back. Familiar faces, but with hungry shadows rising behind them—names like Dean Huijsen and Fermin López. It’s Spain’s eternal cycle. One generation lifting the next.
On Monday, the squad gathers at Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas by lunchtime sharp. That’s when the real work begins. Because lists on paper don’t win matches. Boots on grass do.
