Spain's New Squad for UEFA Nations League 2026–2027

Spain’s world champions are back on the road, and Luis de la Fuente has made it clear: nobody’s place is sacred.

With the 2026–2027 UEFA Nations League about to begin, the Spain coach has named his squad for the new campaign, tweaking a winning formula with four changes to the group that lifted the World Cup.

La Roja restart their journey with a heavyweight clash at Wembley against England in a week’s time, the first of four games in a demanding international window. After London comes a home date with Croatia at the Sánchez-Pizjuán on the 29th, a meeting with the Czech Republic in Oviedo on the 3rd, and then a return bout with Croatia in Split to close the series.

De la Fuente has kept the spine that conquered the world and Europe, but his message is sharp: the door is open, the competition is ruthless, and staying in a squad of world champions requires constant proof.

Four World Cup winners are out. Four fresh – or returning – faces step in.

A knee injury opens the door for Josep Martínez

The most unfortunate change comes in goal.

Joan García, one of the 26 who went to the World Cup, drops out after injuring his right knee in a fall during the match against Racing. The setback rules him out of this camp and forces a reshuffle in a position where Spain have been remarkably stable.

De la Fuente reacts by turning to Inter Milan’s Josep Martínez. The call-up brings the goalkeeper back into the national team fold for the first time since June 2021, when he made his debut in extraordinary circumstances.

That night, Spain were forced to field a second-string side against Lithuania after the senior squad was isolated when Sergio Busquets and Diego Llorente tested positive for coronavirus. Martínez wore the shirt then. He gets another shot now, this time as part of the world champions’ group.

Huijsen returns, Eric García steps into Llorente’s role

At right-back, the change had been coming.

Marcos Llorente’s international retirement, announced on 3 September, left a vacancy in a role De la Fuente had come to rely on. The coach has responded by backing form and familiarity.

Eric García is drafted in for that position, one he has occupied for every minute of his club’s season so far. It is a clear nod to continuity: a defender in rhythm, playing the same role week after week.

There is also a notable return in the heart of defence. Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen, who missed the World Cup, is back in the squad. His recall restores another piece of De la Fuente’s pre-tournament plans and adds fresh legs and height to a back line that already includes Pau Cubarsí, Laporte, Vivian, Cucurella, Grimaldo and Pedro Porro.

Midfield shake-up: Gavi out, Fermín back in

The biggest emotional jolt comes in midfield.

Gavi, who started Spain’s opening World Cup match against Cape Verde, is out. His minutes had already dwindled at Barcelona after another knee issue against Elche, and his latest problem closes the door on this camp.

Complicating matters further, FIFA’s appeals committee has rejected the Spanish federation’s attempt to suspend the ban imposed on the midfielder over events in the World Cup final. Between injury and sanction, Gavi’s path back into La Roja is temporarily blocked.

Into that gap steps a familiar name for De la Fuente: Fermín López. The Barcelona midfielder missed the World Cup after suffering a foot injury on the final day of last season, a cruel blow for a player who had been one of the coach’s key men in the build-up.

Now he returns to the core of the project, rejoining a midfield that still runs through Rodri, with Zubimendi, Pedri, Fabián Ruiz, Mikel Merino, Dani Olmo and Baena all keeping their places.

A new No 9 for Spain’s scoring race

The most eye-catching decision comes up front.

Borja Iglesias, a trusted attacking option during the World Cup, is out of the squad. In his place, De la Fuente rewards the most lethal Spanish forward in the league right now.

Espanyol striker Roberto Fernández earns his call after surging to the top of the race for the Zarra Trophy, the award given to the best Spanish goalscorer in the domestic championship. His form has pushed him past rivals Camello, Espí and Gonzalo in the national team pecking order.

For a Spain side that has often relied on collective scoring rather than a single dominant No 9, Roberto’s emergence offers something different: a hot hand, backed by numbers, arriving at the right time.

He joins an attacking unit loaded with variety: Nico Williams, Yeremy Pino, Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal and Víctor Muñoz all keep their places, giving De la Fuente width, pace, experience and youthful flair.

Spain squad for the start of the Nations League

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.

The champions now walk back into the spotlight at Wembley, with a target on their backs and subtle changes under the surface. The question is no longer whether Spain can win – they’ve proved that twice over. It’s who will still be standing in this squad when the next trophy comes into view.