Key Takeaways:
- Spain will host Georgia on Saturday, October 11 in Elche and Bulgaria four days later in Valladolid
- Marcos Llorente and Pablo Barrios have been called up, while Álvaro Morata has been omitted
- Spain enters this window following a 9-0 aggregate against Bulgaria and Turkey in September
Second Qualifying Window Set for 2026 World Cup
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has announced the national team squad for the upcoming round of World Cup qualifications. Spain, coming off a commanding 9-0 aggregate performance last September (winning 0-3 away in Bulgaria and achieving a 0-6 victory in Turkey), turn their attention to home fixtures next. The schedule sees Spain facing Georgia on Saturday, October 11 in Elche, followed by a clash against Bulgaria four days later in Valladolid.
𝗟𝗼𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘀.#VamosEspaña | #CopaMundialFIFA pic.twitter.com/lJZnN1a71y
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) October 3, 2025
Squad Changes and Notable Absentees
Despite sidelined players such as Dani Carvajal, Nico Williams, Gavi, and Fermín, Spain’s squad remains largely familiar, reflecting the work that began in March 2023 and now centres on World Cup qualification. The most significant selection dilemma was at right-back: with Dani Carvajal nursing an injury after his brief September return, and Pedro Porro already part of De la Fuente’s regular plans, the coach has recalled Marcos Llorente. Llorente’s impressive form for Atlético de Madrid earns him a return, his first Spain inclusion since the original Euro qualifying list, having previously played 45 minutes against Andorra in Badajoz alongside Cubarsí and Aleix García.
The squad also sees the return of Yeremy Pino and Samu following injury. New to this window is Pablo Barrios, though he is no stranger to senior international football, having debuted against Switzerland in Tenerife last November after receiving a late call-up when Zubimendi was injured in Copenhagen.
Fabián remains absent as he continues to recover from injury, while Laporte has not been recalled. The highest-profile omission is captain Álvaro Morata, who for the first time has been left out purely due to technical reasons.
Full Spain Squad Announced
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Unai Simón, David Raya, Alex Remiro |
| Defenders | Pedro Porro, Marcos Llorente, Huijsen, Le Normand, Cubarsí, Vivian, Cucurella, Grimaldo |
| Midfielders | Zubimendi, Rodrigo, Pedri, Mikel Merino, Aleix García, Baena, Dani Olmo, Barrios |
| Forwards | Lamine Yamal, Oyarzabal, Ferran, De Frutos, Samu, Yeremy Pino, Jesús Rodríguez |
Looking Ahead
With their latest selection, Spain seeks to maintain the momentum from their emphatic September displays as they prepare to face Georgia and Bulgaria in pursuit of World Cup qualification. The fresh inclusion of Llorente and Barrios, alongside headline omissions, underscores De la Fuente’s commitment both to form and to broadening Spain’s player pool as the road to North America continues.
