Spain’s World Cup Revolution: No Real Madrid Players for the First Time in 76 Years
When Luis de la Fuente read out Spain’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup on May 25, one statistic jumped out immediately: zero Real Madrid players. For the first time since 1950, La Roja will enter a World Cup without a single player from the Spanish capital’s most decorated club. The decision ends a run that spanned 19 straight tournaments and underscores how quickly the balance of power in Spanish football has shifted. De la Fuente was direct when asked about the omission. “I don’t look at where players come from. What matters are Spanish players who are proud to represent their country’s national team”. Sporting form, not politics, drove the call. Real Madrid finished the 2025-26 season eight points behind Barcelona in La Liga and failed to win a major trophy. Key Spanish internationals from Madrid struggled for minutes or fitness. Dani Carvajal ended the season recovering from a long-term knee problem. Dean Huijsen, Raúl Asencio, and Fran GarcÃa were in an...