Spain World Cup 2026 squad: Lineup and tactics for France

After being held to a goalless draw by Cape Verde in one of the all-time World Cup shocks, Spain have since gone on to show they can still grind results out at the highest level and why they entered the tournament as one of the favourites.

A 3-0 win over Austria confirmed their quality in the Round of 32, and they’ve dug deep to find late winners against Portugal in the Round of 16 and Belgium in the Quarter-Finals. Arsenal’s Mikel Merino popped up with both of those crucial goals.

Spain’s defensive record at this World Cup is the standout statistic of the entire tournament. Until Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere equalised just before half time in their Quarter-Final, Spain hadn’t conceded all tournament – almost five and a half games in! They hadn’t, however, faced the most potent of attacks. France are a couple of steps up from all their previous opponents.

Rodri has controlled games – as he so often does – from deep, Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsí have forged a solid centre-back pairing, Luis de la Fuente has instilled a real tactical discipline throughout the squad.

Spain benefit from a well-established style of play. They were not always associated with a possession-based approach, as their old nickname la furia Roja (‘the Red Fury’) indicates, but for the last 20 years, you know how a Spanish team will play football.

They have also benefitted from a relatively settled starting XI, although there were one or two enforced tweaks at the start of this campaign.

Check out our latest World Cup match betting tips and predictions ahead of today’s games

Spain World Cup 2026 squad and predicted lineup: key takeaways

• Mikel Oyarzabal leads the team’s scoring with four tournament goals and has been Spain’s most reliable attacking presence – his composure in front of goal and movement in behind make him the standout scorer pick in any game Spain play.
• Nico Williams has been unable to get back into the side. The winger was absent with an adductor injury at the start of the tournament, but hasn’t forced his way back in like many assumed he would. The left wing spot has been held down by Álex Baena.
• Mikel Merino continues to come up clutch off the bench. He was a doubt for the Belgium game but once again came on and scored, just as he did against Portugal.
• Rodri’s fitness has been a concern, but the Man City midfielder has started every game so far. Spain without him in his deep-lying role is a materially different team, as no other player in the squad replicates his ability to control tempo and protect the defence simultaneously.
• Marc Cucurella is one of the more compelling cards market picks in the whole tournament, having accumulated seven Premier League yellow cards this season from a position where he pushes forward and can be exposed in transition.
• Spain’s tournament pedigree under de la Fuente is genuinely strong, as a coach who has won the Nations League, the European Championship, and multiple youth tournaments, making him arguably the most experienced knockout tournament manager in the field.

Luis de la Fuente knows the Spanish system

Luis de la Fuente is not one of the most high-profile managers at the World Cup. Whereas the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann have won major prizes in the club game, de la Fuente has spent much of his career coaching Spain’s youth teams.

That gives him one major advantage, though: the 64-year-old knows how to negotiate knockout tournaments at international level. A winner of the Nations League and the European Championship with Spain’s senior side, he has also had success in under-19 and under-21 football.

De la Fuente has also been widely praised for his ability to create a healthy, harmonious environment for his players. That is incredibly important for international competitions, especially one which is as long as this 48-team, five-and-a-half-week event.

The star player: Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal dazzled at Euro 2024, taking the tournament by storm as a 16-year-old. We have since grown accustomed to Yamal dominating games at the highest level, but it is worth remembering how remarkable it is for someone so young to perform like he does. Yamal may well be the best player in the world already.

Yamal’s fitness hasn’t been of any further concern since he returned to the lineup for the second group game – in which he scored within minutes – but he hasn’t set this tournament alight quite like he did at Euro 2024, perhaps understandably so.

He is, however, a generational talent – and he scored the goal of his life in a Semi-Final against France two years ago. Just as impressive as his footwork, dribbling and finishing abilities is his maturity. Unlike many forwards his age, Yamal frequently makes the optimum decision in possession.

Spain 2026 World Cup confirmed 26-man squad

How Spain lined up vs Belgium

de la Fuente made a big call in dropping midfield maestro Pedri to the bench for their Quarter-Final on Friday night, naming Fabián Ruiz alongside Rodri instead. Pedri may not have shone at this tournament, but given his consistency over the years in both a Barcelona and Spain shirt, it was certainly a bold decision.

Nico Williams came off the bench against Belgium but hasn’t forced his way back into the side like many expected – his adductor injury may still be hampering him.

After initially going with Marcos Llorente at right back, and switching between him and Pedro Porro during the group stages, it seems as though the Spurs man has now locked down that place.

How to bet on the Spain World Cup squad

There are specific betting markets relevant to the Spain starting XI for World Cup 2026. One of the most obvious is the anytime goalscorer market. Mikel Oyarzabal looks like an attractive pick here after his braces against Saudi Arabia and Austria, although Lamine Yamal could yet have a big moment in him.

Another individual player market worth watching is cards. For all his ability on the ball, Rodri is not afraid to do the dirty work out of possession. Marc Cucurella is another contender: at the time of writing, the Chelsea left-back has picked up seven yellow cards in the Premier League this season.

Is there a chance of Spain winning?

Yes, a strong one. The odds of a World Cup victory are very high for Spain. Six games, one goal conceded and the most dominant defensive display of any side remaining in the tournament puts them odds on just behind France.

Many will feel that the winner of this Semi-Final tonight are the more likely to win the Final. It will be a very intriguing watch!

FAQ about the 2026 Spain World Cup squad

1. How many times have Spain won the World Cup?

Spain have won the World Cup once before. Their only triumph to date came in 2010, as a team containing the likes of Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and Xabi Alonso lifted the trophy in South Africa. Aside from 2010, they hadn’t reached a semi-final – until now! This, therefore, would represent their second best World Cup campaign even if they were to be beaten by France.

2. Which players are injured and missing from the starting 11?

Nico Williams has hardly featured since the group stage after aggravating an existing adductor injury, and Yéremy Pino is also unavailable with a fractured collarbone.

Mikel Merino was a doubt the other night after picking up an adductor injury immediately after scoring the winning goal against Portugal as a substitute. Otherwise, Spain have a largely fit and settled squad heading into the Semi-Final.

3. Are there any changes to Spain’s usual starting 11?

Spain’s starting XI has been remarkably settled throughout the tournament. The same outfield players have largely started every knockout game, with Lamine Yamal now fit enough to play from the first whistle after having his minutes carefully managed in the group stage.

• World Cup 2026 AI predictions
• World Cup 2026 Top goalscorer odds
• England to win World Cup 2026 odds
• World Cup 2026: Best young player odds

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.