Spain's Squad for UEFA Nations League: Changes and Challenges Ahead

Spain’s world champions are back on the road – and Luis de la Fuente has made it clear that the celebration is over.

The Spain coach has named his squad for the start of the 2026–2027 UEFA Nations League, keeping the spine of the team that lifted the World Cup but cutting four names and ushering in fresh competition. The message is sharp: nobody owns their shirt.

La Roja open their defence of their recent dominance – World Cup and European Championship titles back-to-back – with a heavyweight trip to Wembley to face England next week. That clash launches a demanding four-game block in this international window.

After London, Spain return home to host Croatia on the 29th at the Sánchez-Pizjuán, then face the Czech Republic in Oviedo on the 3rd. The break closes with another meeting against Croatia, this time in Split. It is a schedule with no room for complacency, and De la Fuente has selected accordingly.

Goalkeeping shake-up: injury opens the door

The first big change comes in goal.

Joan García, part of the World Cup-winning group, is out after injuring his right knee in a fall during the match against Racing. The setback has ruled him out of this camp and forced De la Fuente into a rethink.

He has turned to Inter Milan’s Josep Martínez, who returns to the national team picture for the first time since June 2021. Back then, under De la Fuente, Martínez made his debut in extraordinary circumstances: Spain had to field a second-string side against Lithuania after the senior squad went into isolation when Sergio Busquets and Diego Llorente tested positive for coronavirus.

Now Martínez comes back not as an emergency solution, but as a contender alongside Unai Simón and David Raya.

Defence: Huijsen back, Eric García steps into Llorente’s void

On the right side of defence, one change was inevitable.

Marcos Llorente’s decision to retire from international football on 3 September left a clear gap. De la Fuente has chosen Eric García to fill it, rewarding a player who has not missed a minute for his club this season in that role. It is a positional twist for a defender long associated with the centre, and a sign of the coach’s faith in his tactical intelligence.

There is also a return for Dean Huijsen. The Real Madrid defender, who missed the World Cup, is back in the fold and strengthens a defensive unit that still includes Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Laporte, Vivian, Cucurella and Grimaldo.

The back line, then, evolves without losing its core identity: ball-playing defenders, aggressive full-backs, and fierce competition for minutes.

Midfield: Gavi out, Fermín back in the frame

In midfield, one of Spain’s most recognisable faces drops out.

Gavi, who started Spain’s opening World Cup match against Cape Verde, has seen his minutes fade since suffering a new knee problem against Elche. His physical issues are compounded by disciplinary fallout: FIFA’s appeals committee has rejected the Spanish federation’s attempt to suspend the ban imposed on him for events in the World Cup final.

The consequence is brutal but simple – no Gavi in this squad.

His absence reopens the door for Fermín López. The Barcelona midfielder missed the World Cup with a foot injury suffered on the final day of last season, a cruel blow given his importance in De la Fuente’s plans in the build-up to the tournament. Now he returns to a midfield group led by Rodri, with Zubimendi, Pedri, Fabián Ruiz, Mikel Merino, Dani Olmo and Baena all fighting for roles.

Spain’s engine room remains stacked, but the hierarchy is anything but fixed.

Attack: a new Zarra leader steps in

Up front, De la Fuente has delivered the biggest surprise.

Borja Iglesias, a trusted attacking option during the World Cup, has been left out. His omission underlines the ruthlessness of the current selection policy: past service counts, but current form rules.

The beneficiary is Roberto Fernández. The Espanyol striker has forced his way into the national team by climbing to the top of the race for the Zarra Trophy, awarded to the best Spanish scorer in the league. His goals have pushed him ahead of rivals Camello, Espí and Gonzalo in De la Fuente’s thinking.

He joins an attacking cast packed with variety: Nico Williams, Yeremy Pino, Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal and Víctor Muñoz. Pace, one-on-one specialists, finishers, creators – and now a new in-form No 9.

The competition in the final third has rarely looked fiercer.

Spain squad for the Nations League start

Goalkeepers: Unai Simón, David Raya, Josep Martínez.

Defence: Pedro Porro, Eric García, Pau Cubarsí, Laporte, Vivian, Dean Huijsen, Cucurella, Grimaldo.

Midfield: Rodri, Zubimendi, Pedri, Fabián Ruiz, Mikel Merino, Dani Olmo, Baena, Fermín López.

Attack: Nico Williams, Yeremy Pino, Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Roberto Fernández, Lamine Yamal, Víctor Muñoz.

Spain arrive at Wembley as world and European champions, but De la Fuente’s list makes one thing clear: reputations will not defend those titles. The players will.