The Spanish national team squad list has been announced, along with new call-ups
Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish national team coach, announced the official squad for "La Roja" in preparation for upcoming matches, a list that included Barcelona's first-team goalkeeper, Juan García. The 24-year-old goalkeeper received his first call-up to the national team after a remarkable first season with the Catalan club, having joined from Espanyol, where he made 35 appearances across all competitions. Despite being forced off with an injury late in Barcelona's resounding 7-2 victory over Newcastle United in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16, the coach's confidence in him secured his place in the squad.
The squad renewals weren't limited to Garcia; three other new players joined for the first time: Arsenal defender Cristian Mosquera, Real Sociedad striker Ander Barrenetxea, and Osasuna winger Victor Muñoz. Meanwhile, some key players remain sidelined due to injury, most notably Athletic Bilbao winger Neco Williams and Barcelona midfielder Xavi, who has only made one substitute appearance since returning from a serious knee injury.
Strategic changes to the friendly match schedule
As part of their intensive preparations for the World Cup, the Spanish national team (European champions) are set to play two friendly matches later this month. The first will be against Serbia on March 27 at Villarreal's stadium, followed by a tough match against Egypt four days later in Barcelona.
The match against Serbia was arranged as a replacement for the "Vinaleissima" game, which was scheduled against Argentina (the reigning World and Copa América champions) in Doha, Qatar, but was canceled due to the ongoing events in the Middle East. For the same reason, the friendly against Egypt was moved from Qatar to Spain, reflecting the Spanish Football Federation's flexibility in adapting its preparation plans.
Historical context: The 2026 World Cup in its exceptional format
These preparations are of paramount importance given the nature of the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted for the first time by three North American countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This historic edition will also feature 48 teams for the first time, increasing the level of competition and the diversity of footballing styles. Spain, with its rich history culminating in its 2010 World Cup victory in South Africa, aims to recapture its former glory and rely on its young generation combined with the experience of veteran players.
Saudi Arabia's national team faces the giants
Regionally and internationally, Arab fans are focused on Group H of the World Cup, which has pitted the Saudi national team (the Green Falcons) against title favorites Spain, along with Uruguay and Cape Verde. This challenge presents a historic opportunity for the Saudi team to demonstrate its continued progress, especially after its heroic performance in the 2022 Qatar World Cup and its historic victory over Argentina. Facing established footballing schools like Spain (modern tiki-taka) and Uruguay (Latin American solidity) requires exceptional preparation from the Green Falcons, reflecting the remarkable development Saudi football has recently witnessed.
The complete list of the Spanish national team
The official squad list included the following names:
- Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad), and Juan Garcia (Barcelona).
- Defense: Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Coparsi (Barcelona), Dean Howson (Real Madrid), Cristian Mosquera (Arsenal), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), and Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen).
- Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal), Pedri, Dani Olmo and Firmin Lopez (Barcelona), Pablo Fornals (Real Betis), Carlos Soler (Real Sociedad).
- Forwards: Yeremy Pinault (Crystal Palace), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid), Ander Barrenetxea and Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Victor Muñoz (Osasuna), Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).
