La Roja's Defence Begins: Spain's 2026 World Cup Squad Predicted
European champions. Lamine Yamal in his pomp. De La Fuente's vintage. Our predicted Spain 26 for the World Cup and XI for the Uruguay opener.
Spain won Euro 2024. They were the best team in that tournament by a distance. Since then they have only got better. Lamine Yamal is now 18 years old, playing the best football of a career that has barely started, and he is already — without significant exaggeration — the most exciting attacker in world football. The midfield is the best in this tournament. And somehow Spain are priced at around +700 to win the whole thing.
That's underrated. Here's our squad, our XI, and why you should be backing La Roja.
GK: Unai Simón Is Settled
There are no complications here. Unai Simón has been Spain's first-choice goalkeeper for the better part of four years. He's comfortable with the ball at his feet — essential for a Spain team that builds from the back — and his performances at Euro 2024 were assured.
David Raya travels as backup. He offers something slightly different with the ball — his distribution is excellent — but this is Simón's shirt until he does something to give it away.
The Defence: Young, Mobile, Excellent
Pau Cubarsí is 18 years old and already one of the best centre-backs in this squad. He reads the game like a veteran. His positioning is immaculate. The fact that he started Euro 2024 games while still at academy age tells you everything about how quickly he's developed.
Robin Le Normand partners him. Physical, aerially strong, the kind of centre-back who doesn't need to make flashy interventions because he positions himself correctly before the ball arrives.
Dani Carvajal at right-back — fitness dependent, but when fit he is still the best right-back in the tournament. If Carvajal is not fit, Jesús Navas or Pedro Porro steps in. The system absorbs the change because Spain's possession game doesn't lean on any single defender.
Marc Cucurella at left-back. Marcos Alonso provides cover. The left side is fine.
The Midfield Is The Tournament's Best
Say it without hedging: Spain's midfield trio — Rodri, Pedri, Fabián Ruiz — is the best combina