Two years after winning UEFA Euro 2024, Spain arrives in North America carrying a status that very few national teams can claim: that of a World Cup favorite. Luis de la Fuente has built a team that retains La Roja’s historic DNA—possession, technical excellence, and control of matches—while adding greater verticality and dynamism through an exceptional generation led by Lamine Yamal. For many observers, only France can boast a squad as complete and balanced as Spain’s.
Group Stage :
On paper, La Roja is the clear favorite to win the group, and the showdown against Uruguay could determine who finishes first and likely avoids a daunting encounter with Argentina in the knockout stage.
June 15: Spain vs. Cape Verde (Atlanta)
June 21: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia (Atlanta)
June 27: Spain vs. Uruguay (Guadalajara)
Key players :
David Raya
While Joan García is coming off an outstanding season, David Raya remains Luis de la Fuente’s undisputed No. 1. Beyond his excellent performances, he represents continuity and reliability. His distribution, composure, and ability to perform on the biggest stages perfectly match the requirements of one of the tournament’s leading contenders.
Rodri
Rodri remains the cornerstone of this Spanish side. Whenever Spain needs to control the tempo of a match, everything runs through the 2024 Ballon d’Or. The Guardian describes him as one of the squad’s biggest stars alongside Lamine Yamal and Pedri. His return to full fitness after recent physical setbacks post LCA is excellent news for La Roja. If City could believe to win the Premier League, it’s thank to Rodri.
Pedri
After several seasons disrupted by injuries, the Barcelona midfielder finally appears to have regained his full sharpness. His vision, technical quality, and intelligence in tight spaces make him one of the best attacking midfielders in the world. Alongside Rodri, he forms what is arguably the most elegant midfield partnership in the tournament. He enters his second World Cup carrying the expectations of an entire nation on his shoulders.
Lamine Yamal
He arrives at this World Cup as the player attracting more attention than anyone else in global soccer. His extraordinary talent, creativity, and ability to change a game in an instant evoke memories of the greatest prodigies in the sport’s recent history. Despite some fitness concerns before the tournament, Luis de la Fuente has expressed confidence regarding his availability. While Yamal dazzles with his creative genius, Nico Williams provides blistering pace and power. The two wingers already terrorized defenses during Euro 2024 and today form one of the most exciting attacking duos in world soccer.
The face of Spain in 2026
Spain may possess the most balanced squad in the entire tournament. Between the experience of players such as Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, and Mikel Oyarzabal, and the emergence of talents like Yamal, Cubarsí, and Pedri, Luis de la Fuente has assembled a group capable of controlling matches while also producing moments of individual brilliance.
Where the Spain of the Xavi-Iniesta era dominated through pure possession, the 2026 version adds greater speed, directness, and unpredictability. If Lamine Yamal is fully fit and operating at his best, Spain appears to be one of the strongest candidates to lift a second World Cup trophy, sixteen years after its historic triumph in South Africa.