Spain enter 2026 World Cup as favourites

Spain national team, coached by Luis de la Fuente, heads to the 2026 FIFA World Cup as betting favourite after winning every match at Euro 2024 and securing Olympic gold in Paris.

Pedri, a Barcelona midfielder, has returned to full fitness under Hansi Flick and is regarded as one of the finest midfielders; Rodri provides the midfield anchor; Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal add the main attacking threat.

The defence centres on 19-year-old Pau Cubarsí alongside Aymeric Laporte, a partnership described as the squad’s least settled area.

Luis de la Fuente is expected to deploy a 4-3-3 with Unai Simón in goal, Marcos Llorente at right-back, Cubarsí and Laporte as centre-backs, Marc Cucurella left-back, Rodri, Pedri and either Dani Olmo or Mikel Merino in midfield, and Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal and Nico Williams up front; notably, no Real Madrid players are in the squad.

Spain sit in Group H with Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay; de la Fuente expects Lamine Yamal to be available against Uruguay if not earlier, despite a recent hamstring injury; Ferran Torres celebrated a goal in a friendly against Iraq on June 4, 2026.