Dani Carvajal Omitted from Spain's 2026 World Cup Squad as De la Fuente Picks Porro and Llorente

Spain's final 26-man World Cup squad, announced by Luis de la Fuente on June 14, 2026, will not include veteran Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal — a high-profile omission ahead of La Roja's opening match against Cabo Verde on June 15. The decision follows an injury-hit final season for the 34-year-old and leaves Spain to rely on Tottenham's Pedro Porro and Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente for the right-back role.

Why it matters

Carvajal's absence matters for several reasons. He is one of Spain's most decorated modern defenders and finished his time at Real Madrid with 27 major trophies, including a joint-record six Champions League titles alongside Paco Gento. Beyond silverware, Carvajal has offered experience, leadership and familiarity with Spain's recent match-day culture — traits manager Luis de la Fuente explicitly acknowledged when addressing the omission.

How Carvajal's 2025–26 season influenced the call

World Soccer Talk reports that Carvajal's final season at the Santiago Bernabéu was disrupted by significant injury problems. A severe muscle injury in the autumn ruled him out of the early part of the campaign, and a subsequent knee injury after his initial return kept him sidelined for a further 12 matches across all competitions. By the end of the season he had made just 23 appearances, and those fitness and match‑sharpness concerns were cited as central to de la Fuente's decision.

De la Fuente's explanation and squad context

When announcing the final roster, De la Fuente addressed Carvajal's absence directly and made a point of leaving the door open for future involvement: “Their cycle is not over,” he said, referring to Carvajal and fellow high-profile omission Álvaro Morata. The manager's selection deliberately hands the right-back responsibilities to Pedro Porro and Marcos Llorente, neither of whom were left out of the final 26-man squad.

Notably, Carvajal did not feature in Spain's 55-man preliminary pool, which underlined how definitive the omission was in the build-up to the tournament.

Spain's right-back options and tactical implications

With Carvajal unavailable, De la Fuente has opted for a mixture of specialists and versatile options at right-back. Pedro Porro arrives with recent Premier League experience at Tottenham, while Marcos Llorente provides Atletico Madrid's blend of athleticism and tactical flexibility. That combination gives Spain both a conventional attacking full‑back and a more multifunctional option who can operate higher up or shift into midfield as needed.

How De la Fuente uses them will affect Spain's wing play and defensive balance in the early rounds — especially with Spain due to open against Cabo Verde on June 15, 2026 at 16:00 UTC.

Key points

• Dani Carvajal (34) omitted from Spain's final 26-man 2026 World Cup squad (source: World Soccer Talk).
• Carvajal did not appear in Spain's 55-man provisional pool (source: World Soccer Talk).
• Manager Luis de la Fuente said: “Their cycle is not over,” referencing Carvajal and Álvaro Morata (source: World Soccer Talk).
• Spain will rely on Pedro Porro (Tottenham) and Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid) for right-back responsibilities (source: World Soccer Talk).
• Carvajal's 2025–26 season was disrupted by a severe muscle injury and a later knee issue; he made 23 appearances in all competitions (source: World Soccer Talk).
• Spain's opening World Cup match is against Cabo Verde on 15 June 2026 at 16:00 UTC (match_data).

What it means for Spain and Carvajal

For Spain, the absence of Carvajal reduces the margin for experienced depth at right-back but gives De la Fuente clearer selection lines between Porro and Llorente. For Carvajal, the omission caps a difficult final season at Real Madrid where injuries cost him regular minutes and ultimately his place in the national squad. De la Fuente's public comment keeps the possibility open for a future recall, but any return will depend on Carvajal restoring sustained fitness and form at club level.

What happens next

Spain kick off their World Cup campaign against Cabo Verde on June 15, 2026, and the early matches will offer the first indication of how De la Fuente plans to deploy his right-side options without Carvajal. For the player, the immediate focus will be on recovery and regaining club form if he is to force his way back into international contention in future squads.