Dani Carvajal unlikely to make Spain World Cup squad as Luis de la Fuente settles on 21 players | OneFootball

Spain played their final clashes before Luis de la Fuente names his World Cup squad of 26 players over the last week, securing a 3-0 win over Serbia and grinding to a 0-0 draw with Egypt at the RCDE Stadium. The majority of the seats on the plane to the United States are already occupied as things stand though.

Ahead of the Egypt game, de la Fuente declared that he had already decided 20-22 of his squad for the 2026 World Cup, leaving four to six places still up for grabs. Those spots will be in no small part decided by injuries and fitness, as per Diario AS. Perhaps the headline is that Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal is unlikely to go to what would likely be his last major tournament with Spain, ‘unless there is a dramatic turnaround in his fitness’.

Goalkeeping uncertainty over Joan Garcia

Unai Simon will be Spain’s number one this summer, and David Raya his alternative. De la Fuente surprised many by calling up both Alex Remiro and Joan Garcia this international break, and handing a debut to the latter. There is no certainty on whether Remiro or Garcia will get the final call.

One spot up for grabs in the defence

With Carvajal on the outside looking in, Pedro Porro and Marcos Llorente are the current right-backs set to travel, with Marc Cucurella and Alejandro Grimaldo settled on the other side. Dean Huijsen, Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte have their places assured in central defence, while Dani Vivian appears to have slid down the pecking order. The fourth spot will be between one of Robin Le Normand, Eric Garcia or Cristhian Mosquera.

Midfield hinges on recoveries of Fabian and Merino

In midfield, Rodri Hernandez, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez and Alex Baena are expected to maintain their spots as regulars. Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Merino will both go to the USA if they are deemed sufficiently fit, while Isco and Gavi, recovering from long-term injuries, are not currently in de la Fuente’s thinking. Pablo Fornals, Aleix Garcia and Carlos Soler are battling for their spots.

Nico Williams and the number nine conundrum

Spain’s number nine is guaranteed to be Mikel Oyarzabal if he is fit, and it seems his back-up will be Ferran Torres. In terms of a more traditional centre-forward, Borja Iglesias is reportedly leading the race to be included, with Gonzalo Garcia and Jorge de Frutos also in the running.

Out wide, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are guarantees, although the latter must prove his fitness. Victor Munoz has done his chances of going plenty of good this international break, and Yeremy Pino has been a regular selection for de la Fuente too, but neither are guaranteed.

Guaranteed selections if fit (21 players):

Unai Simon, David Raya, Pedro Porro, Marcos Llorente, Pau Cubarsi, Dean Huijsen, Aymeric Laporte, Alejandro Grimaldo, Marc Cucurella, Rodri Hernandez, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri, Mikel Merino, Fabian Ruiz, Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Mikel Oyarzabal.