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Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has announced his squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, with Barcelona standing out as the most represented club and Real Madrid absent from the list for the first time in the national team’s history.
According to the list, nine Catalan players have been called up, while Barcelona provides the largest group of players among all clubs.
Catalonia is an autonomous region in northeastern Spain whose footballers have long played an important role in Spanish football.
Barcelona’s presence runs through several areas of the squad, from goalkeeper Joan Garcia to defenders Eric Garcia and Pau Cubarsi, midfielders Pedri Gonzalez, Pablo Gavi and Dani Olmo, and forwards Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres.
The absence of Real Madrid players marks a notable break from past Spain squads, as the Madrid club has traditionally been one of the main sources of national team players.
In goal, De la Fuente selected Unai Simon of Athletic Club, David Raya of Arsenal and Joan Garcia of Barcelona.
The defensive group includes Pedro Porro of Tottenham, Eric Garcia and Pau Cubarsi of Barcelona, Aymeric Laporte of Athletic Club, Marc Pubill of Atletico Madrid, Marc Cucurella of Chelsea and Alejandro Grimaldo of Bayer Leverkusen.
Spain’s midfield brings together players from La Liga and major European clubs. Rodri Hernandez of Manchester City is joined by Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino of Arsenal, Marcos Llorente and Alex Baena of Atletico Madrid, Pedri, Gavi and Dani Olmo of Barcelona, and Fabian Ruiz of PSG.
In attack, De la Fuente called up Lamine Yamal of Barcelona, Nico Williams of Athletic Club, Borja Iglesias of Celta Vigo, Mikel Oyarzabal of Real Sociedad, Victor Munoz of Osasuna and Ferran Torres of Barcelona.
The list underlines Barcelona’s central role in Spain’s World Cup plans, while also drawing on players based in England, France and Germany.
With Catalan players making up a major part of the squad, De la Fuente will head into the tournament with a group shaped by both domestic talent and experience from Europe’s leading leagues.
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