Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has taken a calculated risk by naming injured winger Lamine Yamal in his squad for the 2026 World Cup, underlining the teenager’s rapid rise from prodigy to indispensable figure for La Roja.

Yamal, 18, has not played since suffering a hamstring injury for Barcelona in late April, yet remains the headline inclusion in a group built around the core that delivered Spain the Euro 2024 title. Medical reports from Barcelona and the national team suggest he could be ready for Spain’s opening games, but his match sharpness remains uncertain.

De la Fuente has doubled down on the youthful, possession-heavy identity that has reshaped Spain, calling up eight Barcelona players, including midfielders Gavi and Pedri and goalkeeper Joan Garcia. Gavi, only recently back from a serious knee injury, has forced his way into contention with a dynamic end to the club season and is expected to anchor the midfield alongside Manchester City’s Rodri.

The coach highlighted the emotional bond within the squad after Yamal shared a video of Gavi celebrating his selection during a gym session. De la Fuente said that reaction captured the “human quality” he believes is as vital as tactical cohesion.

In a striking break with history, Spain will travel to the World Cup without a single Real Madrid player. Veteran right-back Dani Carvajal misses out after an injury-disrupted campaign, while young defender Dean Huijsen has also been dropped. De la Fuente insisted club allegiance played no part in his choices, stressing that he views his players only through the lens of the national team.

Defensively, Eric Garcia returns after a strong season at Barcelona, joined by Atlético Madrid full-back Marc Pubill and Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking left-back Alejandro Grimaldo. In midfield, Arsenal’s Mikel Merino is rewarded for his recovery from a foot fracture, having just returned to action in the Premier League.

Up front, Nico Williams, another key figure in Spain’s Euro triumph despite his own fitness problems, joins Yamal, Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo in a fluid, interchangeable attack. Spain will begin their Group H campaign against Cape Verde before facing Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, with the nation’s hopes once again pinned on a new generation unafraid of the spotlight.