Dani Olmo pushes to make De la Fuente’s World Cup XI | OneFootball

Dani Olmo is pressing for a starting role as Spain open their 2026 World Cup against Cape Verde on Monday. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Luis de la Fuente has said his XI is decided, likely mirroring the Peru friendly in Puebla, with one position still fluid.

De la Fuente has Baena earmarked for the left while Nico Williams builds back to top form, but Olmo's surge could alter that plan.

Spain's number 10 has arrived in outstanding condition after 36 matches in 2026. Since a stunning strike against Espanyol on 3 January, he has featured in every outing for Barcelona and Spain.

Intense work at Barcelona and a tailored programme away from the club, allied to a quiet home routine and proper recovery, are paying off. That load would be unsustainable, particularly under Hansi Flick and in roles where he initiates the press.

Olmo now has 50 caps and the shirt to match, and is pushing De la Fuente to rethink.

At Euro 2024 he replaced the injured Pedri in the quarter-final against Germany, scoring and assisting. He then scored in the semi-final against France and in the final cleared off the line in stoppage time to deny England an equaliser.

He is comfortable from the left, cutting in for Mikel Merino's historic goal in Stuttgart and scoring in Georgia with Jordi Alba during Luis Enrique's era. For now, Baena is still tipped for that flank, yet Olmo's form strengthens Spain whether he starts or comes on.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo