Dani Carvajal’s worst fears have been confirmed: he will not feature in the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The 34-year-old Real Madrid right-back, who had hoped to bow out of international football on the grandest stage, has been omitted from Spain’s 55-man preliminary squad by coach Luis de la Fuente. His lack of playing time at club level ultimately sealed his fate, ending any lingering World Cup ambitions.
Despite Carvajal’s absence, three Madrid players made the list: centre-back Dean Huijsen, who is considered the strongest candidate to secure a spot in the final 26-man squad, left-back Fran García, and young forward Gonzalo García. Huijsen’s inclusion marks a notable vote of confidence from the Spanish coach.
Luis de la Fuente downplayed the significance of the preliminary roster, stating: “The 55-man list isn’t important—the final 26 will be. We’ve never released the preliminary list before because it’s not common practice in Europe. We send each club a list of preselected players. Let the journalists investigate. But we’ve released this preliminary list as required.” His comments suggest the final squad will carry much more weight.
Another notable absentee is former Real Madrid striker Álvaro Morata, who has failed to impress at Italian side Como. After 24 appearances, he remains goalless, a statistic that explains his exclusion.
Spain will finalize their 26-man roster closer to the tournament, with intense competition expected for the available places. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will kick off in June.