Moleiro on Spain’s provisional World Cup list after standout Villarreal season | OneFootball

Alberto Moleiro has been included on Spain’s provisional list for the 2026 World Cup, a first submission to FIFA and not yet an official call-up, according to El Periódico Mediterráneo.

The 22-year-old’s emergence at Villarreal has put him on Luis de la Fuente’s radar, with supporters calling for his inclusion.

In his first season at Villarreal, the former Las Palmas midfielder has recorded 10 goals and 5 assists in 34 LaLiga matches to date, plus seven Champions League outings and one in the Copa del Rey.

Signed for €16 million, he arrived under the pressure of stepping in for Álex Baena yet has offered constant threat, from the left, inside or as a No 10, combining dribbling, final pass and maturity.

His place on the preliminary list is notable given he has only featured for Spain at youth level, with eight under-19 caps and one goal, and 14 appearances for the under-21s.

Competition for attacking roles will be fierce when the coach trims the group to 26, and the longlist is also understood to include Pau Torres, Pablo Fornals, Víctor Muñoz and Jorge de Frutos.

FIFA’s deadline for final 23 to 26 player squads is 1 June, with official lists for the 48 teams published on 2 June. Injured players may be replaced by someone from the provisional list up to 24 hours before a team’s first match, while goalkeepers can be replaced at any time.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo