The 2026 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching, and many fans are expecting the Spanish national team to be amongst the favourites to lift the trophy for the second time in their history. But despite their triumph in 2010 in South Africa, which was sandwiched by consecutive European Championship wins in 2008 and 2012, Spain have not made the quarter finals since.
However, with a new generation of talent establishing themselves in the national team, FIFA World Cup 2026 odds are backing the likes of Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Fermin Lopez, Pedri, and Dean Huijsen to take Spain all the way in the upcoming tournament, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. Having won the last European Championship by beating England 2-1 in Berlin in 2024, Spain could be on course to repeat the glory years of 2008, 2010, and 2012.
Luis de la Fuente will lead Spain into his second major tournament and has put his faith in a raft of young talent that featured in the recent friendly matches against Serbia and Egypt, as well as the World Cup qualifiers that got the national team to the finals. de la Fuente’s selections are not only based on talent alone, but on proven track records in the best leagues and competitions in world football.
Despite the tender ages of Yamal (18), Cubarsi (19), and Pedri (23), the Barcelona trio have made 151, 126, and 279 career appearances, respectively. In their short careers, all three have gained valuable Champions League experience, while Yamal and Pedri were part of the triumphant Euro 2024 squad. Cubarsi was in contention right until the final cut.
Alongside the Barcelona trio, goalkeeper, Joan Garcia (24), and Fermin Lopez (22) add more youthful representation from the Catalan club. However, in the most recent squad selected by de la Fuente, there are other players plying their trade at Europe’s top clubs that are ready to show the world what they can do.
While talents such as Yamal and Cubarsi were developed and nurtured through the famous La Masia academy, other players have had to earn big moves to showcase their abilities on a larger stage. For Cristhian Mosquera (21) and Alex Baena (24), transfers to Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, respectively, have allowed the pair to translate their talents to the top European football stage.
Both are expected to make the plane to North America with Mosquera receiving his first call up to the national squad for the recent friendlies. Despite only possessing two international caps, the Arsenal defender has shown with his club form that he is ready to perform on the biggest stage having initially earned his stripes at Valencia.
Baena has earned 15 caps since his first call up in August 2023, scoring on his debut against Cyprus. Even before his move to Atletico Madrid, Baena had represented Villarreal in the Europa League and Europa Conference League, but the step up to Champions League football has given Baena the opportunity to show de la Fuente what he can do against better opponents. The left winger was also part of the successful Spanish squad at Euro 2024.
The younger talents that are expected to be named in de la Fuente’s World Cup squad are mixed with a raft of experience to produce a team that is certainly capable of winning the tournament. Despite an injury scare, Yamal is expected to be fit for the expanded 48-team tournament.
Alongside the likes of Rodri (Manchester City), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), and Marcos Llorente (Atletico), the combination of seasoned winners and generational talent that is also used to winning and ready to peak at the World Cup could produce a deadly cocktail that can strike fear into any nation. The new generation of Spanish footballing talent is ready to write another chapter in the national team’s history.
